Calendar

GOVERNANCE

Division III Management Council keeps reform package on course

The Division III Management Council at its October 20-21 meeting reaffirmed its support for the reform package slated for consideration at the 2004 Convention. The group continued to review feedback on the nine proposals, consistent with a process established early during Future of Division III deliberations that has emphasized membership input. The Council noted that the membership is thoroughly discussing pros and cons of the various proposals, and will come to the Convention prepared for debate and decisions.

Council members plan to continue attending conference meetings and various other forums where they can explain the proposals in detail -- and also describe how the package addresses the overall goal of bringing institutions' practices more closely in line with the Division III philosophy.

For more information, see page 1.

GOVERNANCE

Division II Management Council revises conference grant format

FONT SIZE=3>The Division II Management Council agreed at its October 20-21 meeting to create a menu format for the Division II conference grant program.

The proposal, which still must be approved by the Division II Presidents Council, would create two categories of Division II conference grant expenses: required uses and permissive uses. The plan would not affect the total amount of money available to each conference through the grant program.

GOVERNANCE

Division I defines emergency, noncontroversial legislation

The Division I Management Council reviewed recommendations from its newly created legislative review subcommittee on what makes a proposal "emergency" or "noncontroversial."

Legislative proposals will be considered noncontroversial only if (1) broader consultation and debate are unlikely to improve the proposal in any substantial way; (2) significant disagreement or alternative points of view will not be generated; and (3) such proposals do not have a significant impact (unanticipated consequences, undesirable precedent) on existing legislation or proposed legislation.

Legislative proposals will be considered emergency only if (1) significant value or harm is at stake; and (2) the use of the regular legislative cycle is likely to cause undue hardship to the Association or the Division I membership because of the delay in its effective date.

DRUG TESTING

NCAA to commence testing for previously undetected steroid

The NCAA will begin testing for the drug known as tetrahydrogestrinone, or THG.

The drug was discovered after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said it received a call this summer from a person who provided the names of U.S. and international athletes who he said were taking an undetectable steroid. This coach sent the agency a syringe with a sample of the substance. The contents were sent to the International Olympic Committee accredited anti-doping laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles. Don Catlin, head of the lab, was able to identify the contents of the syringe and confirm it would not have been noticed in normal laboratory testing. The UCLA lab has since developed a test to detect this steroid in athletes' urine samples.

Staff contact: Mary Wilfert (mwilfert@ncaa.org)