NCAA Turns Hostile Toward Abusive Nicknames: The NCAA executive committee ordered schools with “hostile” or “abusive” American Indian nicknames or logos to stop using them by February. The NCAA banned such images from post-season play. Also, offending mascots would not be welcome at tournaments, and band members and cheerleaders must change their uniforms by 2008. Florida State and Illinois are the highest profile of 18 programs with nicknames and logos that don’t pass the NCAA’s test.
Meanwhile, some activist groups sought more stringent action. The National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media, for example, wanted the NCAA to issue a complete ban on American Indian imagery to cut off revenue generated from merchandise sales. The NCAA cannot force schools to change their nickname, but it is making life difficult. Offending schools cannot host future NCAA tournament games, and the NCAA encouraged schools not to schedule opponents with hostile or abusive nicknames and mascots.
[8/5/05]
