The NCAA Executive Committee announced Friday that it has adopted a new policy that prohibits 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 approved recommended practices for schools who continue to use Native American mascots, nicknames and imagery in their intercollegiate athletic programs. "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 will take place beginning February 1, 2006. "The NCAA objects to institutions using racial/ethnic/national origin references in their intercollegiate athletics programs," said 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." Other elements of the policy approved require that institutions with offensive references must take reasonable steps to cover up those references at any predetermined NCAA championship site that has been previously awarded, effective February 1, 2006. Institutions displaying or promoting hostile or abusive references on their mascots, cheerleaders, dance teams and band uniforms or paraphernalia are prohibited from wearing the material at NCAA championships, beginning on August 1, 2008. The Executive Committee also announced that effective immediately, institutions with student-athletes wearing uniforms or having paraphernalia with hostile or abusive references must ensure that those uniforms or paraphernalia not be worn or displayed at NCAA championship competitions. The committee strongly recommended that institutions do not support the use of Native American mascots or imagery. Schools such as the University of Iowa and University of Wisconsin already have strict practices in place of not scheduling athletic competitions with any school who uses Native American nicknames, imagery or mascots. The recommendations stemmed from discussions in June at the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee (MOIC) meeting in Boston. Three events prompted initial discussion on mascots within the Association in April 2001 - membership feedback; ongoing issues surrounding the Confederate Battle Flag; and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights' statement on the use of American Indian imagery as sports symbols. Eighteen colleges and universities continue to use Native American imagery or references and are subject to the new policy: Alcorn State University (Braves); Central Michigan University (Chippewas); Catawba College (Indians); Florida State University (Seminoles); Midwestern State University (Indians); University of Utah (Utes); Indiana University-Pennsylvania (Indians); Carthage College (Redmen); Bradley University (Braves); Arkansas State University (Indians); Chowan College (Braves); University of Illinois-Champaign (Illini); University of Louisiana-Monroe (Indians); McMurry University (Indians); Mississippi College (Choctaws); Newberry College (Indians); University of North Dakota (Fighting Sioux) and Southeastern Oklahoma State University (Savages) However, according to the Executive Committee, 14 schools have removed all references to Native American culture or were deemed not to have references to Native American culture as part of their athletics programs: California State- Stanislaus University; Lycoming College; Winona State University; Hawaii-Manoa University; Eastern Connecticut State University; East Stroudsburg University; Husson College; Merrimack College; Southeast Missouri State University; State University of West Georgia; Stonehill College; San Diego State University; Wisconsin Lutheran College; and the University of North Carolina-Pembroke. The College of William and Mary has been given an extension to complete its self-study on the mascot issue.