University of Maryland suspends club tennis team over tournament program with racist KKK imagery
The University of Maryland suspended its club tennis team indefinitely after a tournament program sent to visiting teams contained a graphic with racist imagery. Howard University's team, which received it, says accountability is still lacking; police and student conduct investigations are under way.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The University of Maryland (UMD) has suspended its club tennis team after a program for a weekend fall tournament at College Park included a graphic with racist imagery. NBC NewsLC “The University of Maryland club tennis team has been suspended indefinitely after it included a racist graphic in a weekend tournament program in College Park” Read at NBC News ↗ BreitbartR “The University of Maryland has suspended its tennis club after members of the group passed out a Google document that contained racist images.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Mixed · 2UMD Recreation and Wellness said the team distributed material with "a graphic containing racist imagery targeting people who are Black or African American" and emailed it to other university tennis clubs in the region. NBC NewsLC ““They emailed this information to other university tennis clubs in the region about this weekend’s fall tournament at College Park,” the statement said.” Read at NBC News ↗ BreitbartR “The Maryland Club Tennis student organization distributed programming material with a graphic containing racist imagery targeting people who are Black or African American” Read at Breitbart ↗ Mixed · 2Howard University's club tennis team, from a historically Black university in Washington, D.C., received the material and was taking part in the tournament; its president, Toni Rachal, noticed the graphic in a shared Google Doc, according to the team's Instagram statement. NBC NewsLC “In a statement posted to its Instagram account, the Howard team said Rachal noticed the graphic in a shared Google Doc emailed to participating teams.” Read at NBC News ↗ BreitbartR “Howard University, a Historically Black University (HBCU) in Washington, D.C., reportedly received the materials and was participating in the tournament.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Mixed · 2Howard's team described KKK-style pointed hood masks with eye holes in the top right and lower left of the first page, replacing the Crossland coat of arms of the Maryland state flag. Breitbart, citing CBS News, reported that one image depicted people in KKK hoods, and said the image has not been made public. NBC NewsLC ““KKK pointed hood masks complete with eye holes appear in the top right and lower left quadrants, replacing the Crossland coat of arms of the official Maryland state flag,”” Read at NBC News ↗ BreitbartR “One of the images on the program reportedly depicted people in KKK hoods, CBS News reported.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Mixed · 2UMD said it is "horrified" and offered its "regret and sincere apology for the harm that this has caused." The team forfeited its matches while the tournament continued for the other teams, and its leaders apologized to other captains and took responsibility for sending the graphics. NBC NewsLC “The tennis team forfeited its matches in the tournament, which continued for all other participating teams.” Read at NBC News ↗ BreitbartR “UMD officials added that they are “horrified” by the materials and offered their “regret and sincere apology for the harm that this has caused.”” Read at Breitbart ↗ Mixed · 2UMD said the incident may have involved only a few team members but suspended the whole team until the Office of Student Conduct completes its investigation. The matter was also referred to the UMD Police Department, which confirmed an investigation but gave no further details. NBC NewsLC “The UMD statement noted that the incident may have involved only a few team members but that the school still chose to suspend the entire team until the Office of Student Conduct completes its investigation.” Read at NBC News ↗ BreitbartR “UMD police were notified, and an investigation has begun into the incident.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Left · 1Howard's team said "True accountability has yet to come" and asked UMD and the club tennis executive board for public apologies, a formal investigation into who created the document, and sensitivity training for team leaders and advisers. It also asked that the tournament funds be donated to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. NBC NewsLC “Despite the team being suspended and investigated, Howard’s team said, “True accountability has yet to come.””“The Howard team is also asking that the funds from the weekend tournament be donated to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.” Read at NBC News ↗ Left · 1Howard interim president Wayne A. I. Frederick said there is "no place for racism, intimidation, or imagery rooted in hatred and racial violence" in collegiate athletics, and thanked UMD President Darryll J. Pines for his immediate concern. NBC NewsLC ““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,” Wayne A. I. Frederick” Read at NBC News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- NBC News gives a fuller account centred on the university's statement and Howard's response, including Howard's demands and the unresolved question of accountability.
- Emphasis
- Howard team's description of the graphic, its demands, and statements from Howard's interim president.
- For example
-
“Despite the team being suspended and investigated, Howard’s team said, “True accountability has yet to come.”” — NBC News
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Breitbart gives a short account built on UMD's statement and a CBS News report, stressing the quick university reaction, suspension and police investigation.
- Emphasis
- The speed of UMD's response, the apology, and that the image has not been made public.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out Howard's own statement, its demands, and the point that the suspension covers the whole team although only a few members may have been involved.
- For example
-
“Officials at UMD’s Recreation and Wellness (RecWell) department saw the image on Saturday, and the school reacted quickly.” — Breitbart
What every side reports
- UMD suspended its club tennis team after a tournament program contained racist imagery.
- The material was sent to other regional clubs, including Howard University's team.
- UMD said it was horrified and apologized; the team forfeited its matches.
- UMD police are investigating.
Where accounts differ
-
Scope and detail of the imagery
- Left
- NBC reports Howard's description of KKK-style hood masks on the first page.
- Right
- Breitbart says an image reportedly showed people in KKK hoods, per CBS News, and that it has not been made public.
University of Maryland organisation
UMD says it is horrified, apologizes, has suspended the team and referred the matter to police and the Office of Student Conduct.
““The University of Maryland is horrified and expresses its regret and sincere apology for the harm that this has caused,” the school said in the statement.” — NBC News
Left1 article
-
University of Maryland club tennis team suspended after sharing racist imagery
Neutral Detailed report combining UMD's statement with Howard's account and demands for further accountability.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
University of Maryland Suspends Tennis Club After Members Created Program with KKK Imagery
Neutral Brief factual report relaying UMD's statement and CBS News, emphasising the university's swift response.
- 12 Oct 19:08 First BreitbartR University of Maryland Suspends Tennis Club After Members Created Program with KKK Imagery
- 13 Oct 14:34 +19h 26m NBC NewsLC University of Maryland club tennis team suspended after sharing racist imagery
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…