The University of Wisconsin is now allowed to play against teams previously banned from the NCAA championship for using American Indian mascots, names and imagery, following a Faculty Senate amendment Monday.
Teams that obtained permission from tribes for the use of their names, as well as teams that changed their nickname, mascot or imagery have been removed from NCAA’s banned list, including the Florida State University “Seminoles” and the Catawba College “Indians.”
Vince Sweeney, associate director of athletic communications for UW, said the previous policy was “pieced together over the years,” adding it “was good, but in need of updates.”
The review of the policy came after confusion over which schools with American Indian mascots or imagery were acceptable under the previous policy, which was adopted in 1993 before the NCAA revised its policy.
“The University of Wisconsin-Madison believed that it was important to the quality of campus life that we discourage scheduling athletic competitions with schools that used Native American mascots or imagery,” a November Athletic Board recommendation read.
Sweeney said the athletic department would support whatever the Faculty Senate decided.
“We are partners in campus,” he said.
Sweeney said as long as the NCAA approved a team that uses American Indian mascots, names or imagery, it is OK for the Badgers to play against them.
“The new policy is better,” Sweeney said. “The policy is based on a whole lot of work the NCAA has done.”
Although UW will now allow competitions to be played against these schools, the university will discourage teams with American Indian mascots from bringing their mascots to the campus.
“We will abide by what they voted upon today,” Sweeney said.
Three teams are still banned from playing in NCAA championships, including the Alcorn State University “Braves,” Arkansas State University “Indians” and University of North Dakota “Fighting Sioux.”