MASCOTS

Staff review results in removal of institutions from restriction

Two more institutions, Central Michigan University and the University of Utah, have been removed from the list of colleges and universities subject to restrictions on the use of Native American mascots, names and imagery at NCAA championships, under a review process approved August 18 by the NCAA Executive Committee.

The staff review committee designated by the Executive Committee to review all facts related to institutions' appeals earlier removed Florida State University from the list.

"The NCAA Executive Committee continues to believe the stereotyping of Native Americans is wrong," said Bernard Franklin, NCAA senior vice-president for governance and membership and chair of the staff committee.

"In its review of the particular circumstances regarding Central Michigan University and the University of Utah, the NCAA staff review committee noted the relationship between the universities and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and the Northern Ute Indian Tribe, respectively, as a significant factor. The NCAA recognizes the many different points of view on this matter, particularly within the Native American community. The decision of a namesake sovereign tribe, regarding when and how its name and imagery can be used, must be respected even when others may not agree.

"The NCAA position on the use of Native American mascots, names and imagery has not changed, and the NCAA remains committed to ensuring an atmosphere of respect and sensitivity for all who participate in and attend our championships. Requests for reviews from other institutions will be handled on a case-by-case basis."

INJURY RESEARCH

Web-based injury data system available to athletic trainers

Athletic trainers have been invited to participate in the 2005-06 NCAA Injury Surveillance System (ISS), a Web-based initiative for all sports for which the NCAA sponsors a championship.

Though the ISS involves a slight time and resource commitment, the service provided at no cost to institutions allows athletic trainers to record both athletics and non-athletics injuries and illnesses, customize self-generating individual player end-of-season injury reports and establish treatment logs, among other options.

The NCAA staff provides ISS data to the appropriate sports rules committees and the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports for annual review to assist in health and safety rules-making and policy development. The information also is helpful for individual schools and conferences in making administrative decisions and monitoring injury trends. ISS data is available for research projects as well.

The system requires a high-speed Internet connection and works best using minimal browser versions Internet Explorer 5.5, Netscape 6.0 or Mozilla. Last year, more than 200 NCAA institutions participated in the ISS. For more information about the ISS, see www.ncaa.org/iss.

Staff contact: Randy Dick (rdick@ncaa. org).

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Men's College World Series earns nomination for award

The 2005 Men's College World Series has been nominated by readers of SportsTravel magazine for a 2005 SportsTravel Award.

The event, staged June 17-26 in Omaha, Nebraska, appears on ballots in the August and September issues of the magazine and also on an online ballot at www.SportsTravel Magazine.com. Voting is open through September 15.

Award winners will be announced November 4 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Criteria for nomination include superior organization of and attendance at the event, a superior experience for competitors and/or spectators, and enhancement of the event by its site or venue.

Other NCAA championships previously have received the award, including the Division I Men's Basketball Championship and Division II Sports Festival.

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