Last week, the NCAA’s Minority Interests and Opportunities Committee met in Boston to begin assessing
reviews submitted by 30 Division I, II and III schools whose Indian mascots are
under investigation. Most of the schools in question maintain that their mascots
and nicknames are institutional traditions dating back decades. American Indian
activists, as well as other civil rights groups, call the mascots discriminatory
and derogatory because the dances, figures and songs used by the schools in question
severely disrespect and mar American Indian religious and cultural tradition.
After last week's meeting the committee has voted against declaring a mascot
ban—they are, however, making "confidential" recommendations
to the schools in question. The NCAA Executive Committee will have the final
word. A permanent decision is expected in August.
