No treehugging here

STANFORD (AP) _ The NCAA has chopped down the Stanford tree.

The Division I women's basketball committee reprimanded and fined Stanford on Friday for the antics of its tree mascot during the NCAA tournament last March.

The mascot, which has been nearly as controversial as Stanford's notorious band in recent years, also was suspended for the Cardinal's next appearance in the NCAA women's basketball tournament.

The tree refused to leave the court at halftime of the Cardinal's victory over Florida State on March 20 in Denver, and the NCAA also cited "violation of multiple tournament policies regarding bands, cheerleaders and mascots" in its announcement, giving no more details. At the time, the tree reportedly was suspended for Stanford's next game in the regional semifinals.

"The committee was very disappointed in this disturbing pattern of behavior and strongly believes that these acts compromised the integrity of the championship," said Joni Comstock, the committee chair and the athletic director at American University.

The previous student to wear the tree costume was fired in February when she performed while drunk at Stanford's game against Cal. The NCAA cited policy violations in previous years as a factor in the suspension.

The Stanford band _ a loose, irreverent collection of musicians _ also has been in hot water countless times in recent years for off-color pregame shows and questionable behavior, ranging from public urination to mean-spirited lampooning of religious schools.

Last month, Stanford suspended the band for causing more than $30,000 in vandalism damage to its own "Band Shak," the trailer that serves as the band's on-campus home.