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TechnographNCAA policy change unclear
By Courtney Linehan
Posted: 8/24/05 Section: News
With aims of sending a clear message about its stance on what it considers "hostile and abusive" use of American Indian imagery, the NCAA executive committee ruled earlier this month to eliminate those images from postseason play.
While the Aug. 5 ruling sent a clear message about the NCAA's views of symbols like Chief Illiniwek, the immediate implications of its statements are still being clarified. For the University, no immediate change is planned at Assembly Hall, Huff Gym or Memorial Stadium. Chief Illiniwek will perform at the football season opener Sept. 3 at Memorial Stadium, and will continue to be present at home football, basketball and volleyball games throughout this fall.
But the NCAA's ruling may have far-reaching affects on Illinois' sports program.
"There will be no immediate change in the traditions and practices of the University at this time," University spokesman Tom Hardy said. "The plan now will be for Chief Illiniwek to continue doing what he's been doing.
"There are aspects of the decision that we feel need clarification. We're reviewing that and looking for answers from the NCAA before determining how we're going to proceed."
The NCAA executive committee ruled at its August meeting to prohibit member institutions from displaying in postseason competition what it deemed "hostile and abusive" racial, ethnic, or national origin-based mascots, nicknames and imagery. The measure came three months after 32 schools sent the NCAA self evaluations on their uses of words or images with American Indian connotations. Eighteen schools - including Illinois - were deemed to be in violation of the new policy.
In a press conference in which the NCAA announced its policy, indications were made that the policy was not established based on the content of those self evaluations. Ron Stratten, NCAA vice president for educational policy, said the NCAA hoped its member institutions would use the self evaluations as an opportunity to see where they should make changes on their own.
While the Aug. 5 ruling sent a clear message about the NCAA's views of symbols like Chief Illiniwek, the immediate implications of its statements are still being clarified. For the University, no immediate change is planned at Assembly Hall, Huff Gym or Memorial Stadium. Chief Illiniwek will perform at the football season opener Sept. 3 at Memorial Stadium, and will continue to be present at home football, basketball and volleyball games throughout this fall.
But the NCAA's ruling may have far-reaching affects on Illinois' sports program.
"There will be no immediate change in the traditions and practices of the University at this time," University spokesman Tom Hardy said. "The plan now will be for Chief Illiniwek to continue doing what he's been doing.
"There are aspects of the decision that we feel need clarification. We're reviewing that and looking for answers from the NCAA before determining how we're going to proceed."
The NCAA executive committee ruled at its August meeting to prohibit member institutions from displaying in postseason competition what it deemed "hostile and abusive" racial, ethnic, or national origin-based mascots, nicknames and imagery. The measure came three months after 32 schools sent the NCAA self evaluations on their uses of words or images with American Indian connotations. Eighteen schools - including Illinois - were deemed to be in violation of the new policy.
In a press conference in which the NCAA announced its policy, indications were made that the policy was not established based on the content of those self evaluations. Ron Stratten, NCAA vice president for educational policy, said the NCAA hoped its member institutions would use the self evaluations as an opportunity to see where they should make changes on their own.
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