University of Maryland club tennis team apologizes for sharing ‘abhorrent’ racist imagery
NBC News • • sports
Key Points:
- The University of Maryland (UMD) club tennis team apologized for distributing a tournament program containing a racist graphic featuring Ku Klux Klan imagery, which caused harm to visiting teams, including Howard University’s club tennis team.
- UMD suspended the entire club tennis team pending an investigation by the Office of Student Conduct, and the incident was also referred to the University of Maryland Police Department for further investigation.
- UMD President Darryll J. Pines condemned the offensive image and expressed commitment to repairing the harm caused, while the Black Student Union emphasized the need for sustained accountability and support for Black students beyond reactive measures.
- The Maryland team forfeited its tournament matches and agreed to donate all funds from the event to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, as requested by Howard University’s team.
- The Maryland club tennis team committed to future education and training on the history and impact of racism and hate symbols to prevent similar incidents.
