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NCAA News Release

Statement From Robert Vowels, Chair Of The NCAA Minority Opportunities And Interests Committee, On The Use Of The Confederate Flag

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, January 23, 2007
 Contact(s)

Gail Dent
Associate Director of Public and Media Relations
317/917-6117
INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee recommended today the NCAA maintain its current policy on predetermined championship events in the states of South Carolina and Mississippi.

The MOIC noted the NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) have maintained a continuous dialogue with state legislators from South Carolina and Mississippi to discuss removal of the Confederate battle flag from state grounds. The committee also noted that Georgia previously made modifications to its display of the Confederate battle flag that were deemed acceptable by the NAACP.

In particular, the committee again affirmed that NCAA institutions in South Carolina and Mississippi do not have control over where the Confederate flag is placed. Since institutions do not have control over the placement of the Confederate flag, the committee emphasized it was not fair to penalize institutions and student-athletes who earn the right to host non-predetermined championships in those states.

In addition, the committee distinguished the Confederate flag policy from the Native American Mascot policy based on institutional control. Whereas NCAA colleges and universities have control over the images, nicknames and mascots on their individual campus, institutions in South Carolina and Mississippi do not have control over where the Confederate flag is placed outside of their campus. In the case of South Carolina and Mississippi, the Confederate flag is not officially displayed on any NCAA institution�s campus.

The MOIC asked NCAA staff to draft a letter to state legislators in South Carolina and Mississippi encouraging them to continue their dialogue with the NAACP, SCLC and other entities in order to come to an acceptable resolution regarding the display of the Confederate flag. Additionally, the committee asked that the letter reiterate the policy of the NCAA to preclude predetermined championship events from being held in South Carolina and Mississippi.

In 2001, the NCAA Executive Committee declared a moratorium on assigning new, predetermined championships and certifying collegiate events in South Carolina and Mississippi. The NCAA Executive Committee declared the moratorium following concerns raised by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the Black Coaches Association, the Student Basketball Council and other organizations. The NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee will continue to discuss the confederate flag issue, educate the NCAA membership and do outreach to generate feedback on the topic.


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