Dempsey Takes Middle-of-the-Road Stance : NCAA Convention: Executive director addresses membership but fails to address the issues.

Cedric Dempsey, NCAA executive director, declined Sunday to take a strong stand on the highly charged issue of academic standards during his state of the association address to open the 89th NCAA Convention.

Dempsey, in his second year since replacing Richard Schultz, illustrated the NCAA staff’s recent attempts to appear neutral on controversial issues.

In a speech before the NCAA membership in San Diego, Dempsey acknowledged today’s vote on freshmen eligibility-requirement rules by praising delegates for the “healthy if not heated exchange of ideas.”

But he did not endorse any of six proposals that will determine what standards will be used for eligibility.

“I appreciated his self control,” said William DeLauder, president of Delaware State, who opposes tightening of requirements based on standardized test scores.

“I thought it was a strong statement committed to fairness and access. If there are strong feelings on an issue within the association then the association ought to debate that and I think (Dempsey) recognizes that.”

Judith Albino, chairwoman of the NCAA’s Presidents Commission, also was satisfied with Dempsey’s delivery, although her group did not receive vocal support for academic reform.

“I didn’t find it lacking,” said Albino, president of the University of Colorado system.

Later, Dempsey said he fully supported the Presidents Commission’s proposal to increase the core courses needed to be eligible but delay by a year the implementation of higher minimums for test results.

He said he did not intentionally take a neutral position during the speech. “I was trying to show there are many options,” he said. “I want to allow the will of the membership make the decision.”

Instead of joining the looming battle over eligibility, Dempsey weaved a broad theme of the NCAA’s future, calling for the members to be open to the changing collegiate landscape. He said the NCAA has reached a critical juncture.

“Change is not optional,” Dempsey said. “It is happening all around us.”

In sticking to the theme of change, Dempsey urged delegates to increase the authority of college presidents and chancellors in the effort to restructure the body.

“I am convinced that this one issue--that of presidential responsibility for intercollegiate athletics--must be the linchpin of restructuring,” he said.

“As it has evolved, the (Presidents) Commission has become a stronger and more influential voice in the association. It is now time to complete the evolution.”

NCAA Notes

Evidence that the NCAA staff has attempted to deal fairly with all special-interest groups came last month when it refused to give the Knight Foundation Commission mailing labels with members’ addresses without first approving a letter the lobbyists wanted to send, reported the Chronicle of Higher Education. The Knight Commission, a strong ally of the Presidents Commission’s efforts to tighten academic requirements, had been given the labels in the past. The NCAA said it was uncomfortable assisting any one lobby group because there were varied opinions on the freshman-eligibility rules issue.