NCAA: Mascot ruling
Postseason ban on 'hostile' images
The NCAA took an important step in its campaign to eliminate the use of ''hostile or abusive" nicknames by its membership yesterday by banning the use of Native American mascots by sports teams during postseason tournaments. The decision will prevent member schools from displaying nicknames or imagery deemed offensive on uniforms, clothing, or logos after Feb. 1.
The NCAA Executive Committee, meeting in Indianapolis, said at least 18 schools would be affected by the policy, including Division 1 athletic icons Florida State (Seminoles), Illinois (Fighting
''What each institution decides to do is really its own business" outside NCAA championship events, said committee chairman and University of Hartford president Walter Harrison. ''What we are trying to say is that we find these mascots to be unacceptable for NCAA championship competition."
Not all schools with Indian-related nicknames must adhere to the policy. Schools that use the Warrior nickname (such as Merrimack, whose mascot has a Spartan likeness), or schools that do not use Indian symbols would not be affected. Major college football teams also would not be affected because there is no NCAA Division 1A tournament or playoff. Programs with nicknames deemed offensive can still appeal the decision.
''I suspect that some of those would like to having a ruling on that," said NCAA president Myles Brand. ''But unless there is a change before Feb. 1, they will have to abide by it."
Florida State president T.K. Wetherell has already threatened to take legal action, citing the school's permission from the Seminole tribe in Florida to use the nickname. The explanation didn't meet the NCAA's standards, however. ''Other Seminole tribes are not supportive," said Charlotte Westerhaus, the NCAA's vice president for diversity and inclusion.
The University of Illinois has already felt the pressure of the NCAA's increased intolerance, having its mascot, Chief Illiniwek, banned from the men's Final Four in March. Yesterday's decision has put the school on further alert that tradition can no longer supersede sensitivity.
''There's no question that the university and the board of trustees are going to have to look at what the NCAA put out [yesterday] and make a determination on how it impacts the institution and go from there," Illinois spokesman Tom Hardy said. ''Certainly some things remain to be answered and one of those things is the definition of what is hostile or abusive."
That sentiment was echoed by University of North Dakota president Charles Kupchella. Although the school's nickname is the Fighting Sioux, North Dakota does not have a mascot despite its prominence in many sports, most notably men's hockey. Kupchella also stressed the university's commitment to American Indian studies and its enrollment of more than 400 American Indian students as terms for possible leniency.
''Our athletes and coaching staff have used the nickname and logo with great pride and respect," Kupchella said in a statement.
The NCAA two years ago recommended that schools determine for themselves whether the Indian depictions were offensive. Upon internal investigations, several institutions adopted nickname changes, including St. John's (from Redmen to Red Storm) and Marquette (from Warriors to Golden Eagles). The self-study also trickled down into the NCAA's lower tiers. As of July 1, Division 2 Stonehill officially changed its nickname from the Chieftains to the Skyhawks to not only escape the NCAA's crosshairs, but also to promote a more positive identity for the school.
''We had no physical reference with the Chieftain as our mascot," said Jim Seavey, Stonehill's associate director of athletics. ''We wanted something to enhance school spirit, and our marketing capability and visibility. I think we've found that with the Skyhawks.
''[The NCAA's decision] was not a surprise to us. The review that they have undertaken played a large role in our decision. It was a factor, but not the primary factor. The decision [yesterday] was something we thought had been coming for a while."
Vernon Bellecourt, president of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media and a member of the Anishinabe Ojibwe Nation in Minnesota, applauded yesterday's ruling but had hoped for even stronger action.
''We would have hoped the NCAA would have provided the moral leadership on this issue, but obviously they've chosen to only go halfway," he said.
Material from wire services was used in this report. 
