University of Maryland club tennis team suspended after sharing racist imagery

Key Points:

• The University of Maryland (UMD) has indefinitely suspended its club tennis team after it distributed a tournament program containing racist imagery targeting Black or African American people, including Ku Klux Klan symbols.
• The incident, which may have involved only a few team members, is under investigation by UMD’s Office of Student Conduct and the University Police Department, with the tennis team forfeiting its matches in the tournament.
• Howard University’s club tennis team, which identified the racist graphic, has demanded public apologies, a formal investigation, sensitivity training, and that tournament funds be donated to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
• UMD expressed horror and regret over the incident, issued apologies to affected teams and schools, and is providing support to visiting teams, while the Black Student Union called for systemic accountability and harm restoration beyond administrative actions.
• Howard University’s interim president condemned the racist imagery and appreciated UMD’s prompt response, emphasizing the need to eliminate racism and hatred in collegiate athletics and society.