LSC Presidents pledge support for game environment
The Lone Star Conference Council of Presidents have pledged their support to NCAA Division II's game environment initiative.
The LSC intends to further stress the initiative by providing member institutions with a document entitled "Basic Principles of Game Environment in the LSC" prior to the fall athletic seasons.
"It's an exciting time in Division II right now, and certainly the Lone Star Conference is proud to be taking part in it," LSC Commissioner Stan Wagnon said. "Our presidents have been very receptive to this game environment initiative, and hopefully their signing of the pledge was only the first of many steps we'll take to ensure that athletic events in the Lone Star Conference are both enjoyable and memorable experiences for all involved."
After a presentation from former Texas A&M-Kingsville director of athletics Jill Willson, who oversees Division II's community-engagement and game-environment efforts online, during their meeting on June 16 the presidents signed a pledge form that states: NCAA Division II presidents and chancellors affirm that athletics events should reflect the values of higher education and the mission of each institution. Division II emphasizes learning and development in a personal setting. As chancellors and presidents, we are concerned about the uncivil behavior exhibited at college athletics contests and thereby pledge to work together to make respectful, family-friendly events a standard of the Division II experience.
The game environment website is the primary tool in the effort to make Division II athletics contests more civil, comfortable and entertaining. More than just an effort to boost sportsmanship, the Division II game-environment platform is a broader sweep that addresses everything from student-athlete, coach and fan behavior to pep bands, healthy concessions and clean restrooms.
And like the community-engagement Web site, the game-environment site offers a number of resources, video versions of "teachable moments," and a shared-ideas component in which members can tell peers what works.
Signatures on the LSC game-environment pledge:
Dr. Royce Money, Abilene Christian
Dr. Joseph Rallo, Angelo State
Dr. Cindy Ross, Cameron
Dr. Roger Webb, Central Oklahoma
Dr. Richard Rafes, East Central
Dr. Steven Gamble, Eastern New Mexico
Dr. Jesse Rogers, Midwestern State
Tim Foutch, Northeastern State (on behalf of Dr. Don Betz)
Kyle Stafford, Southeastern Oklahoma (on behalf of Dr. Michael Turner)
Cecil Perkins, Southwestern Oklahoma (on behalf of Dr. John Hays)
Brad Chilton, Tarleton State (on behalf of Dr. Dennis McCabe)
Dr. Keith McFarland, Texas A&M-Commerce
Dr. Rumaldo Juarez, Texas A&M-Kingsville
Dr. Ann Stuart, Texas Woman's
Dr. Patrick O'Brien, West Texas A&M
