University of Maryland Club Tennis Suspended Over Racist Imagery

The University of Maryland has suspended its club tennis organization after it distributed program materials containing racist imagery to rival teams. The materials, intended for a fall tournament hosted on campus, reportedly included a graphic depicting Ku Klux Klan hoods.

University officials discovered the imagery on Saturday and immediately launched an investigation. The University of Maryland's Recreation and Wellness department issued a statement expressing horror and offering a sincere apology for the harm caused.

"The Maryland Club Tennis student organization distributed programming material with a graphic containing racist imagery targeting people who are Black or African American," the university stated. "They emailed this information to other university tennis clubs in the region about this weekend's fall tournament at College Park."

The club forfeited all its matches in the tournament. In addition to the forfeiture, the university's director of Recreation and Wellness issued an apology to the club presidents of all participating teams.

The matter was referred to the UMD police department and is undergoing further investigation by the university. The entire club tennis sports team has been suspended.

Howard University, a Historically Black University (HBCU) whose club tennis team was among those invited, described the graphic as "KKK pointed hood masks complete with eye holes" that replaced the Crossland coat of arms on the official Maryland state flag. Howard's club tennis team stated that the imagery is a recognizable symbol of white supremacy and organized hate, and called for further accountability.

Despite the incident, Howard's club tennis team participated in the competition, stating they maintained an "unbreakable spirit on and off the court." They competed through the final day and reached the semifinals in the silver draw.

Howard University released its own statement Monday evening, asserting that "There is no place for racism, intimidation, or imagery rooted in hatred and racial violence in collegiate athletics, on our campuses, or anywhere in our society." The university added that the imagery evoked a painful history of racial terror and exclusion and that Howard University will remain engaged with the University of Maryland during its investigation.