April 2003

Item No. 4
Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues. The Committee received an update on the Report on the Use of American Indian Mascots in Intercollegiate Athletics submitted by the MOIC.

It was VOTED

"To accept the Report on the Use of American Indian Mascots in Intercollegiate Athletics submitted by the MOIC, refer it to the appropriate divisional governance structures and instruct the groups to report back at its April 2003 meeting.

"To recommend the distribution of the report on the Use of American Indian Mascots in Intercollegiate Athletics to NCAA institutions that currently use American Indian mascots, nicknames and logos and request they provide input to the MOIC.

"To commend the MOIC for its efforts on the issue."

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Excerpt from the February 4-6, 2003, in-person meeting of the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet

Page 15
g. Use of American Indian Mascots in Intercollegiate Athletics. At the direction of the NCAA Executive Committee, the cabinet reviewed a report from the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC) regarding the use of American Indian mascots in intercollegiate athletics. The cabinet confirmed the position it established pursuant to a request by the MOIC to comment on the issue:

Members of the cabinet believe that it is inappropriate to discriminate against any individual on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, creed, or sexual orientation. Further, members of the cabinet believe that institutions, with absolute conviction, should support the dignity and welfare of all individuals. Pursuant to NCAA Constitution 2.6, it is the responsibility of each institution to determine independently its own policy regarding nondiscrimination. However, members of the cabinet believe that institutions should be encouraged to review their situations and ensure that their actions and policies are not contrary to the aforementioned cabinet's statements on nondiscrimination.

The cabinet is committed to the creation and preservation of quality championship opportunities for all student-athletes, regardless of their age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, creed or sexual orientation. Hence, subject to review by the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, as appropriate, it is the position of the cabinet that access to or the location of or management of NCAA championship events should not be restricted because of issues related to the use by institutions of American Indian mascots or images.

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Excerpt from the Report of the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification

Item No. 2
d. Use of Native American Mascots. The committee received a request from the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee to require institutions, as a part of the certification program, to submit a self-analysis in order to determine if the depiction and use of an institution's Native American mascot, nickname, and logo can be viewed as offensive. The committee determined that the American Indian mascot issue does not relate to any certification operating principle and should not be included as a part of the program.

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