As a new academic year begins, the NCAA national office is calling attention to several initiatives and resources to help administrators educate their campus communities about hazing.

"Hazing prevention in intercollegiate athletics requires a collaborative approach, inclusive of student affairs and athletics administrators, coaches, team captains and other student leaders. By activating a broad-based campus partnership, athletics will gain credibility and support in its hazing-prevention efforts," said Wilfert.

The NCAA also is a sponsor of the ongoing National Hazing Study at the University of Maine, Orono; and the National Hazing Symposium set for March 2007 in Orlando, Florida. A report on the National Hazing Study can be found at www.hazingstudy.org. As part of the one-day symposium, Wilfert said participants will hear the latest findings in hazing research and develop strategies for campuses based on those results.

NCAA officials also are working with former University of Vermont Director of Athletics Rick Farnham to develop a handbook to provide guidelines and best practices. The Coaches and Captains Handbook, one of the first comprehensive written resources on hazing compiled by the NCAA in recent years, will be available this spring.

In addition to those initiatives, Wilfert said the NCAA provides about 400 grants annually to help educate student-athletes about hazing and other health and safety issues. She said the Association budgeted more than $200,000 for programs in 2005-06.

"The NCAA recognizes the seriousness of hazing behaviors and supports efforts to eliminate them from intercollegiate athletics and higher education. Our position is based on the established principles of institutional control and responsibility, student-athlete well-being, and sportsmanship and ethical conduct, which can be found in the NCAA Constitution," said Wilfert. "We hope that all our member institutions will take advantage of available resources and join us in creating a safe, positive environment for every NCAA student-athlete."

For more information about National Hazing Prevention Week, see www.nhpw. com. To learn more about grants and other health and safety resources, go to www. ncaa. org/health-safety, and click on the "Education and Wellness" link.

The Sports Task Force chose Clark because of her success as one of the few black volleyball coaches at a large institution and her leadership in both the NCAA and the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Clark has been in charge of the program at Butler since 2000. Under her leadership, the Bulldogs have earned four appearances in the Horizon League tournament semifinals, including a second-place finish in her inaugural season. Clark formerly was head coach at the University of California, Davis, for six seasons and at Humboldt State University for one season.

The NABJ is the nation’s largest organization of journalists of color with nearly 4,000 members.