NCAA member schools will be "required to provide sexual-violence-awareness education for all college athletes, coaches and athletics administrators" under a policy announced Thursday by the organization’s BOG, according to Ralph Russo of the AP. Campus leaders such as ADs and school presidents will be "required to attest that athletes, coaches and administrators have been educated on sexual violence each year." School policies on sexual violence and the name and contact information of the Title IX coordinator "must be distributed throughout the athletic department and to all athletes." The NCAA policy "does not delve into bans, restrictions or punishments for athletes who commit sexual violence, deferring to schools to set and follow their own policies" (AP, 8/10). SI.com's Chris Chavez noted the policies were "recommended by the Commission to Combat Campus Sexual Violence, which is comprised of university officials, athletic administrators, coaches, sexual violence experts, advocates and student-athletes" (SI.com, 8/10). CBSSPORTS.com's Barrett Sallee reported schools that "don't attest to the requests will be known to the public." All schools in compliance with the policy will be "included in the NCAA's annual report" to the BOG (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/10). YAHOO SPORTS' Nick Bromberg wrote the changes "come as Baylor has taken steps to rectify its massive shortcomings in dealing with sexual assault." While the problem of sexual assault is one across college campuses "all over the country, Baylor didn’t have a full-time Title IX coordinator" until '14 "among other ways it inappropriately handled accusations of sexual assault at the school" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/10).
EMBRACING THE DECISION: Arizona State football coach Todd Graham said that he "embraced" the NCAA's decision, "stressing the importance of being proactive instead of reactive." Graham "feels like the university and the athletic department already have taken healthy steps in this regard." In Phoenix, Doug Haller notes the ASU football program in the spring "had a guest speaker address the team on sexual violence." In addition, QB Manny Wilkins has been "involved with women-support groups for most of his time on campus." Wilkins said, "Growing up, I was around domestic violence. It's just important to me because I feel that I know what it is to have respect for all women, all ages. It's very important to me because it's personal, and if I can have a voice, it could go a long ways" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/11).
