Whitworth’s Move To Ncaa Division Iii Hits Snag Financial Aid To Needy Athletes Keeps Pirates, 3 Others Out Of Compliance

Whitworth College is among four schools in the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges that, one year away from becoming full-fledged NCAA Division III members, have hit a snag.

According to Whitworth athletic director Scott McQuilkin, the Pirates still have players on their rosters who have received financial aid based on athletic ability.

George Fox, University of Puget Sound and the NCIC’s newest member, Seattle Pacific, also are not in compliance.

Aid programs specifically designed for athletes violate NCAA Division III rules. The NAIA, the conference’s current national association, allows scholarships targeted for athletes.

The 10-team NCIC is in its third year of dual NCAA and NAIA membership. Conference schools intended to break away from the NAIA next year. Now, six schools will be eligible for 1998-99 and the other four will not be eligible until the 1999-2000 school year.

In Whitworth’s case, according to McQuilkin, athletic awards have always been given in need-based situations.

After the spring in 1999, Whitworth will have graduated all the student-athletes who have received scholarships based on sports.

“Is it our understanding that we were supposed to strip these students of the money that they had received three years ago to attend Whitworth College?” McQuilkin asked. “That seems unethical and immoral on our part.”

McQuilkin said he became aware of the situation earlier this summer when an NCAA representative telephoned him.

“They asked, ‘Do you have students who are still participating (in sports) who entered Whitworth College on money (financial aid awards) in some way based on talent?“‘McQuilkin recalled.

“The answer is ‘absolutely.’ Even though the heading on those awards was changed from talent to a trustee scholarship, a presidential scholarship,” McQuilkin said.

Now, Northwest Conference members must decide whether they will wait to enter full NCAA membership together.

Whitman, Pacific, Linfield, Willamette, Pacific Lutheran and Lewis & Clark are the six schools eligible for ‘98-‘99 NCAA championship competition. However, six-school conferences don’t receive automatic berths to NCAA Division III tournaments, McQuilkin said.

He said conference presidents will reach a decision in the fall.

“I think we’ll probably wait and go all together,” Whitworth president Bill Robinson said.

, DataTimes