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Arkansas State U Drops Indian Nickname

JONESBORO Ark.
Now that it is dropping the nickname Indians, Arkansas State is free from some NCAA restrictions.

The school announced Monday that it has been removed from the list of colleges subject to sanctions over the use of Native American imagery.

The NCAA in 2005 announced a ban on ethnically or racially “hostile” or “abusive” nicknames, mascots and imagery at championship events. Arkansas State was one of the schools found in violation of the policy.

The school said it can now host NCAA postseason events and is in total compliance with the policy on Native American nicknames.

“I appreciate the faith and confidence that the NCAA has placed in us by making a decision before we have completed our mascot-change process to take us off the sanction list immediately,” Arkansas State Chancellor Robert Potts said. “We look forward to completing our mascot selection process.”

Arkansas State is expected to announce a new mascot next spring.



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