NCAA Board of Governors passes anti-discrimination process for event sites

The NCAA Board of Governors took some necessary steps Wednesday to ensure participants and spectators are free from discrimination during events.

During a regularly scheduled meeting in Indianapolis, the board implemented a new requirement for those sites wishing to host NCAA events in the future. The new measure forces sites to show how they will provide a safe, healthy, and discrimination-free environment.

"The higher education community is a diverse mix of people from different racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual orientation backgrounds," said Kirk Schulz, Kansas State athletic director and chairman of the Board of Governors. "It is important that we assure that community - including our student-athletes and fans - will always enjoy the experience of competing and watching at NCAA championships without concerns of discrimination."

The decision comes after North Carolina and Mississippi passed laws that lessened protection of the LGBT community. Those laws prompted NBA commissioner Adam Silver to threaten moving the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte unless the state of North Carolina changes its legislation.

The decision by the board "reaffirmed the NCAA commitment to operate championships and events that promote an inclusive atmosphere in which student-athletes participate, coaches and administrators lead and fans engage."