Colleges
William & Mary's Nickname Under Scrutiny
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William & Mary must examine its athletic nickname -- Tribe -- by order of the NCAA.
The governing body of college sports is concerned about the use of American Indian logos, mascots and nicknames that some consider offensive.
William & Mary is among 30 colleges on the list, and the only Virginia school. Each must complete a self-analysis by May 1. The NCAA wants to know -- among other things -- the origin of the school's nickname and its history as it relates to the specific campus.
An NCAA committee will review results and make recommendations.
"We have talked about putting more teeth into this," Robert C. Vowels Jr ., the committee chair and the commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "That's going to be a major discussion in our meetings in June."
William & Mary Athletic Director Terry Driscoll said William & Mary asked the NCAA for a deadline extension because a new university president -- Gene Nichol -- will take office July 1. Driscoll said he hasn't talked to Nichol about the issue.
Driscoll told the newspaper that the Williamsburg school has not gotten negative publicity or comments from Virginia Indian tribes about the Tribe nickname in his eight years there.
-- From News Services
