The NCAA Moved on Hostile and Abusive University Mascots & Nicknames 15 Years Ago, Now a New Wave of College Nickname & Mascot Rescissions is Emerging
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Mascot Madness: The NCAA Moved on Hostile and Abusive University Mascots & Nicknames 15 Years Ago, Now a New Wave of College Nickname and Mascot Rescissions is Emerging
Executive Summary
In 2001, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights called for an end to the use of Native American images and team names by non-Native schools
In 2005, the NCAA Executive Committee adopted policies to prohibit member institutions from displaying hostile and abusive racial/ethnic/national origin mascots and imagery
The NCAA Principle of Non-Discrimination holds that the membership shall promote an atmosphere of respect for and sensitivity to the dignity of every person
Hate groups more recently have embraced nicknames and mascots also used by NCAA member schools
Recent examples of NCAA member institutions dropping mascots and nicknames considered hostile and abusive or due to negative connotations and conflict with institutional values
A Division I institution is on the verge of changing its university name due to confederacy connotations
Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, school mascots (along with cheer and dance teams and pep bands) are noticeably missing from courtside at this year's March Madness men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. However, the Division I governance structure’s attempts to deter the hostility and negative connotations certain mascots exude has a longer history and, more recently, a resurgence at the campus level.
Back in August 2005, the presidents and chancellors who served on the NCAA’s Executive Committee adopted a new policy to prohibit NCAA colleges and universities from displaying hostile and abusive racial/ethnic/national origin mascots, nicknames or imagery at any of the 88 NCAA championships. The Executive Committee also recommended best practices for schools who continued to use Native American mascots, nicknames and imagery in their intercollegiate athletic programs.
At the time of the 2005 proclamation, the NCAA had identified 18 colleges and universities that continued to use Native American imagery or references and were subject to the new policy, while 14 schools had removed all references to Native American culture or were deemed not to have references to Native American culture as part of their athletics programs after closer review.
"Colleges and universities may adopt any mascot that they wish, as that is an institutional matter," said Walter Harrison, chair of the Executive Committee and president at the University of Hartford. "But as a national association, we believe that mascots, nicknames or images deemed hostile or abusive in terms of race, ethnicity or national origin should not be visible at the championship events that we control."
The policy prohibiting colleges or universities with hostile or abusive mascots, nicknames or imagery from hosting any NCAA championship competitions took effect February 1, 2006.
"The NCAA objects to institutions using racial/ethnic/national origin references in their intercollegiate athletics programs," said then-NCAA President Myles Brand. "Several institutions have made changes that adhere to the core values of the NCAA Constitution pertaining to cultural diversity, ethical sportsmanship and nondiscrimination. We applaud that, and we will continue to monitor these institutions and others. All institutions are encouraged to promote these core values and take proactive steps at every NCAA event through institutional event management to enhance the integrity of intercollegiate athletics related to these issues."
NCAA member institutions with hostile or abusive references were required to take reasonable steps to cover up those references at any predetermined NCAA championship site that had been previously awarded. Also from this proclamation, the NCAA prohibited its member institutions from displaying or promoting hostile or abusive references on their mascots or paraphernalia, and cheerleaders, dance teams and band members are prohibited from wearing the material at NCAA championships, effective August 1, 2008. And, effective immediately with the 2005 announcement, NCAA member institutions with student-athletes wearing uniforms or having paraphernalia with hostile or abusive references were required to ensure those uniforms or paraphernalia would not be worn or displayed at NCAA championship competitions.
The Executive Committee also strongly suggested that members follow the best practices of institutions that did not support the use of Native American mascots or imagery, acknowledging the University of Iowa and University of Wisconsin, who had practiced not scheduling athletic competitions with schools who use Native American nicknames, imagery or mascots.
The Executive Committee’s recommendations at the time stemmed from discussions by the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee (MOIC). Those recommendations were forwarded to the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity Issues and then forwarded to the Executive Committee, which, at the time, was the highest ranking committee in the NCAA governance structure.
According to Changethemascot.org, a national civil rights and human rights campaign to end the use of the racial slur “r*dskins” as the mascot and name of the NFL team in Washington, D.C. that was launched by the Oneida Indian Nation, more than 200 American colleges, schools and school districts have all stopped using racially offensive Native American mascot names including the R-Word. There are only a few dozen left that still use the name. Numerous schools from all across the country, including districts in Texas, Indiana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Wisconsin and New York have also elected to end their use of derogatory mascots such as the R-word.
Back in 2001, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights called for an end to the use of Native American images and team names by non-Native schools. The Commission issued this statement:
“While respecting the right to freedom of expression, the Commission believes that the use of Native American images and nicknames in school is insensitive and should be avoided. In addition, these mascots may violate anti-discrimination laws. Since the 1960s, many overtly derogatory symbols and images offensive to African Americans have been eliminated. However, many secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, and professional sports teams continue to use Native American nicknames and imagery despite the vigorous opposition of American Indian leaders and organizations. It is particularly disturbing that Native American references are still found in educational institutions, where they may create a racially hostile educational environment intimidating to Indian students. American Indians have the lowest high school graduation, college attendance, and college graduation rates. These problems may be exacerbated by the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. While some schools maintain that Indian imagery stimulates interest in American Indian culture, stereotypes encourage interest only in mythical "Indians" and block genuine understanding of contemporary Native people as fellow Americans. The elimination of stereotypes will make room for education about real Indian people, current Native issues, and the rich variety of American Indian cultures in our country.”
Fast forward to the past 18 months, during which the college athletics landscape has seen a second wave of institutions making wholesale changes to their nicknames and mascots whether tied to Native American imagery or other names, monikers, and imagery that does not align with institutional principles.
As the New York Times reported, Valparaiso University, which is known for achieving one of the biggest upsets in the history of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament by a mid-major athletic program, announced in early February that it was dropping the Crusader as its mascot because of its association with hate groups and violence.
In a video posted on Facebook, the university’s interim president and the student body president said that the Crusader mascot had developed a negative connotation and that it no longer reflected the institution’s values. The university adopted the Crusader as its mascot in 1942, a nod to the Christian conquests of the Holy Land from the 11th century to the 13th century that pitted European invaders against Muslims. The mascot costume features a suit of armor, a helmet and a shield.
According to the Associated Press, Valparaiso University announced in early February that it is dropping the team name Crusaders, the school mascot and all logos associated with the term that it said has been embraced by hate groups. The decision comes after a decades-long debate that had intensified recently because groups such as the Ku Klux Klan began using the symbols and words. The school's faculty and student senates each passed resolutions calling for the change and the university's alumni board of directors supported reassessing the appropriateness of the team name.
"The negative connotation and violence associated with the Crusader imagery are not reflective of Valpo's mission and values, which promote a welcoming and inclusive community," interim President Colette Irwin-Knott said. "This is the decision that best reflects our values and community."
President-elect Jose D. Padilla will oversee a committee that will consider adopting a new team name and mascot for the 3,100-student Lutheran school located in northwest Indiana. Padilla is scheduled to take over as president March 1.
Student president Kaitlyn Steinhiser said the student senate believed the school mascot should represent the university's values and help create school spirit. "The Crusader does not do that effectively," she said.
Irwin-Knott said Valparaiso is following the lead of other universities, which also have dropped Crusaders. "Valpo is and always has been a faith-based institution, and we want to make sure our symbolism is in alignment with our beliefs and speaks to the core values of the Lutheran ethos," she said. "At Valpo, we strive to seek truth, serve generously and cultivate hope. We do not believe having the Crusader as our mascot portrays these values."
“Unfortunately, the Crusader and its symbols related to the Crusades have been embraced and displayed by hate groups,” Ms. Irwin-Knott said. “In fact, a newspaper of the KKK. carries the name The Crusader, and this is not something we want to be connected with Valparaiso University in any way.”
Valparaiso is not the only NCAA member school to drop the Crusader nickname and mascot. Division I Holy Cross announced it was dropping its Knight mascot and branding due to its correlation to the crusades. Division III Capital University also carried the Crusader nickname until its Board voted in July 2020 to change the name, noting similar concerns with the name and mascot that Valparaiso more recently identified.
Nicknames and mascots are not the only institutional identifiers that universities are on the verge changing in recent times. Dixie State, an institution located in Utah that is transitioning from NCAA Division II to Division I, is on the verge of changing its university name.
As footballscoop.com reported, Dixie State University’s President Richard Williams said the name is a drag on the school’s brand, citing a university-commissioned study that found 64% of respondents in the school’s recruiting region believed the name had Confederate connotations. President Williams noted the name is not serving the best interest of its students including creating an obstacle to employment opportunities. The school’s Board of Trustees, President’s Cabinet, University Council, Staff Association Board, Faculty Senate, and Student Executive Council all support the name change.
NCAA Division I principles include Constitution 2.6 – the Principle of Nondiscrimination. This principle holds the expectation to promote an atmosphere of respect for and sensitivity to the dignity of every person. It is the policy of the NCAA to refrain from discrimination with respect to its governance policies, educational programs, activities and employment policies, including on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, creed or sexual orientation.
This NCAA policy notes that it remains the responsibility of each member institution to determine independently its own policy regarding nondiscrimination.
Athletics Veritas is presented for information purposes only and should not be considered advice or counsel on NCAA compliance matters. For guidance on NCAA rules and processes, always consult your university’s athletics compliance office, conference office, and/or the NCAA.
