Your must-read briefing on what's driving the day in NCAA Division III.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Campus Health Centers Under the Gun
D3Playbook JULY 14, 2020 | written by STEVE ULRICH your must-read briefing on what's driving the day in NCAA Division III
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by Jenn Abelson, Nicole Dungca, Meryl Kornfield and Andrew Ba Tran, Washington Post
"As millions go back to school during the pandemic, the ability of campus health services to safeguard and care for students will be tested as never before — and many colleges appear unprepared for the challenge.
To assess the landscape of student health services at roughly 1,700 four-year residential campuses, The Washington Post interviewed more than 200 students, parents and health officials and examined thousands of pages of medical records and court documents and 5,500 reviews of student health centers posted on Google.
College students reported they commonly waited days or weeks for appointments and were routinely provided lackluster care. Dozens of students ended up hospitalized — and some near death — for mistakes they said were made at on-campus clinics.
>> Situational Awareness: "Student health centers are akin to the Wild West of medical care. There are no national regulations, and most are not licensed by states. Only about 220 campus medical clinics of the thousands nationwide are accredited by outside health organizations as meeting best practices, according to a Post analysis. In one case, Georgetown University stated on its website that its student health center was accredited but removed the claim after being asked about it by reporters."
>> Reality Check: "Students are planning to descend on campuses in a matter of weeks as many states are experiencing a surge of coronavirus cases, including an increasing number of young people who have tested positive. Health experts have described colleges as cruise ships on land, ideal places for the novel coronavirus to spread quickly through shared dorm rooms, communal bathrooms and dining halls."
>> Questions: (1) Are college health centers prepared to handle a pandemic? (2) Can students afford care at on-campus centers? (3) Can schools handle the financial crisis for student health care?
>> Between The Lines: "Stephen Beckley, a consultant with Hodgkins Beckley Consulting, which has evaluated health programs at more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide, said many schools treat on-campus clinics as if they are no different from the bookstore, dining hall or any other student service."
>> Of Note: "About 250 residential colleges have no campus medical clinics or provide services only to athletes, according to a Post analysis of about 1,500 four-year schools with at least 500 students enrolled. Some offer students telemedicine or partner with off-campus providers."
>> The Final Word: “What if an institution does not have access to or cannot afford that kind of testing?” Lee Tyner, general counsel at TCU asked. “This will certainly be the case for hundreds of institutions across the country — small, tuition-dependent private colleges, under-resourced, public two-year community colleges and four-year regional universities.”
Capital University announced that it is will be retiring its Crusaders nickname as well as sidelining its mascot, Cappy. The timeline for the change is to be determined.
The school's decision comes on the same day the NFL's Washington Redskins announced that it would be retiring its franchise's name and logo (see below). The wide belief was that the name was disrespectful towards Native Americans.
Capital becomes the seventh NCAA Division III school to move away from the Crusader nickname, joining Alvernia (now the Golden Wolves), Clark (Cougars), Eastern Nazarene (Lions), Maranatha Baptist (Sabercats), Susquehanna (River Hawks) and Wheaton, Ill. (Thunder).
>> What They're Saying: "We believe that the University nickname and mascot should be a unifying symbol that enhances school spirit and pride for all who are affiliated with Capital. In recent years, our nickname has been challenged by students and faculty for its connection to the historic Crusades. The detailed study found a significant portion of the Capital Family shares this perspective."
"Uncertainty rules the roost in 2020. COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Championships for Divisions I and III, and it forced the mid-meet cancellation in Division II. Looking ahead to the 2021 championships, there is still a great deal that we don’t know about what schools, conferences, and the NCAA may allow. While many colleges and universities are poised to attempt a return to in-person, on-campus learning this fall, the fate of athletics is hanging in the balance, especially for non-revenue generating sports like swimming.
Swimming is characterized as a winter sport within the NCAA, with a season approximately corresponding to the short course season. This puts most conference championships and NCAA Championships in the mid-February to late-March time frame. A traditional NCAA season features dual meets in the fall, invitationals around Thanksgiving, training trips in December and January, followed by a resumption of dual meets and then championships in January through March.
The rapid escalation of cases around the country creates the reality that campuses that do open in the fall will almost certainly see Covid-19 cases in their student populations. In addition to the obvious safety benefits from forgoing competition during a period of heightened risk, planning now for a spring season avoids the near certainty of cancelling scheduled fall competitions, and can provide for a well thought out and planned spring 2021 competitive phase."
>> Why It Matters: "The normal travel schedule that takes place during the fall semester of an NCAA swimming season presents an untenable situation in the current Covid-19 era, with too much student-athlete movement from September through the winter flu season. Leaving out the possibility of a second wave, with the resurgence of the first wave, current travel plans are being curtailed for the fall. More schools and conferences are likely to limit or suspend non-essential travel."
>> Thought Bubble: Delia opines teams returning to campus on January 18 with conference championship meets around April 22-25. Allowing 3 1/2 weeks to the beginning of nationals, the NCAAs would be May 19-22.
>> The Big Picture: "If we want to save our seasons for our teams and athletes, now is the time to take bold action, delay the season start, and plan for a spring 2021 NCAA swimming season."
You can also access this map from the Daily Pennsylvanian that shows U.S. colleges' fall plans.
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Washington Warriors:A known favorite alternative for team owner Daniel Snyder, who once owned trademark rights to the name. But, with team names like the Blackhawks, Braves and Indians as the next under scrutiny, Warriors soon might be interpreted as derogatory.
Washington RedTails: This would be a 180-degree turn from cultural insensitivity to honoring the Tuskegee Airmen, all-black fighter pilots who painted the backs of planes during World War II. RedTails won a prize in a fan-voted contest and has quarterback Dwayne Haskins’ vote.
Washington Red Wolves: Star defensive lineman Jonathan Allen endorsed this option on social media, creating stadium nicknames like “The Den.” Like RedTails, it provides minimal disruption to the team’s social media hashtag, fight song and color scheme by keeping the “Red.”
Washington Hogs: Some fans already wear pig noses to games to celebrate the nickname earned by the team’s offensive linemen during the Super Bowl-winning glory years of the 1970s and 80s. Maybe even make it Red Hogs.
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