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NCAA To Ban Use of “Hurricane” Nickname

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 2) – In light of the ongoing tragedy surrounding the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the NCAA Executive Committee has adopted a new policy to prohibit NCAA colleges and universities from displaying hurricane-related mascots, nicknames or imagery at any of the 88 NCAA championships.

“At a time in which our nation is suffering as a result of these catastrophic natural events, we feel it is irresponsible – in fact shameful – that colleges and universities continue to promote the use of these nicknames and mascots”, said Bernard Franklin, NCAA senior vice-president for governance and membership. He added that hurricanes kill hundreds of people and destroy millions of dollars of property every year.

Franklin stated that “the use of the hurricane nickname, mascot, or imagery can certainly be deemed hostile and abusive by the surviviors of Hurricane Katrina,” or any of the two dozen or so hurricanes that have impacted the United States in the past three decades.

Institutions displaying or promoting hurricane-related references on their mascots, cheerleaders, dance teams and band uniforms or paraphernalia are prohibited from wearing the material at NCAA championships, effective August 1, 2008.

The NCAA is encouraging its schools to educate their internal and external constituents on the understanding and awareness of the negative impact of dangerous weather symbols, names and imagery, and to create a greater level of knowledge of meteorology through outreach efforts and other means of communication.

NCAA member institutions affected by the new ruling include the University of Miami, the University of Tulsa, and Georgia Southwestern University.

University of Miami President Donna Shalala vowed to fight the NCAA’s ruling.

“We have a proud hurricane heritage here at the University of Miami,” said Shalala in a prepared statement. “South Florida has been impacted by hurricanes as long as this area has been inhabited.”

Shalala noted that her university spends millions of dollars each year in research on hurricanes and how hurricanes and humans might co-exist. “The University of Miami should be heralded as an example of the positive relationship between people and hurricanes, not singled out as being hostile or abusive, “ said Shalala in her statement.

Miami athletic director Paul Dee remided reporters that the university had long abandoned any hurricane logos or imagery. Miami uses a “U” as its primary logo and its mascot is an ibis, a type of sea bird. Dee said Miami might revisit its idea of a “throwback night” against the University of North Carolina in October, when helmet designs from the 1960s, which featured hurricane warning flags, were to be used.

Tulsa athletic director Judy MacLeod said she didn’t understand what all of the fuss was about.

“It’s a metaphor, for crying out loud,” said MacLeod. “I mean, what’s the chance of a hurricane actually hitting Tulsa, Oklahoma?”

Despite the fact that Tulsa uses as its logo a blowing, hurricane flag that could cause anxiety among hurricane victims and survivors, MacLeod said the school had no plans to change either its mascot or its symbols.

New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin welcomed word of the NCAA’s action.

“In a time when our city is suffering, I am glad to see that at least one national organization is stepping forward to truly make a difference in the lives of people affected by this tragedy,” said Nagin. Nagin also blamed the Bush Administration and FEMA for not being more proactive on the offensive mascot issue.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson also weighed in on the hurricane mascot issue in a hastily-called press conference designed to allow him to weigh in on the issue, thereby getting his name in print on an issue that doesn’t concern him in the slightest.

While stopping short of calling the use of hurricane-related mascots and imagery racist, Jackson did point out that the vicims of hurricanes are often poor and black.

“Look at the faces of victims, be it in the Caribbean, or in New Orleans. Hurricanes target people of color, and I do not know why we continue to sanctify and glorify these killers,” said Jackson.

On a related note, there was no immediate word as to whether or not the NCAA would seek to discourage the use of other nicknames and logos that are weather and natural disaster-related, such as Tornadoes, Cyclones, or Earthquakes.