Watch the Hearing (C-SPAN); Dr. Frederick's opening statement at 0:29:59


NORFOLK, Va., June 7, 2021 – Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, who also serves as chair of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Presidents and Chancellors, will serve as a witness for a United States Senate hearing on name, image and likeness (NIL) in college athletics on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
 
The hearing, titled “NCAA Athlete NIL Rights,” will be chaired by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and will address federal legislative proposals to allow student-athletes to monetize their NILs, improve athletes’ health care and enhance scholarship protections and academic outcomes, among others.
 
The hearing will also review recent changes in state laws around NIL.
 
Dr. Frederick is among six witnesses scheduled to speak, a slate including NCAA President Mark Emmert and Gonzaga University head men’s basketball coach Mark Few.
 
“The MEAC Presidents and Chancellors have been in discussions with Congressional members to ascertain the prudent pathway forward in the best interest of the student-athletes, FCS institutions and HBCUs,” MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas said. “We wanted our collective voices to be heard regarding federal legislative proposals. We are elated that Dr. Frederick will continue to articulate the MEAC’s positions at this hearing.”
 
A live video of the hearing, which begins at 10 a.m. ET, will be available on www.commerce.senate.gov.
 
 
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) celebrates its 50^th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2020-21 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of 11 outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.