Digital Scholarship and Initiatives

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), in November 2002, placed UNC-Pembroke on a list of 31 colleges or universities whose use of Native American athletic logos, nicknames, or mascots might be deemed offensive. In January 2003, UNC-P sent a letter to the NCAA's Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee (MOIC) explaining that its use of the Bravaes nickname and logo reflects the university's Native American heritage as well as the Native American population of the university's community, the town of Pembroke.Dan Kenney, UNC-P's athletics director, noted that of the 31 institutions on the NCAA's list, UNC-P is the only one it has identified as having been established to educate Native Americans.The NCAA's Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee has referred the matter to the Executive Committee's Subcommittee on Gender and Diversity, which expects to make a decision on the matter during its August meeting.For additional information, see the NCAA News article and the NCAA press release.