RismadarVoice Reporters
October 15, 2026
The University of Maryland has suspended its club tennis team pending an investigation into the distribution of tournament materials containing imagery associated with the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a white supremacist organisation.
The controversy followed a weekend tennis competition during which visiting university teams received tournament programmes featuring the offensive graphic.
The university’s club tennis team subsequently issued a public apology, acknowledged responsibility for distributing the material and announced a donation to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
In a statement shared on Instagram, the team described the imagery as unacceptable and apologised to those affected.
The team said it had personally apologised to participating teams and sent additional messages to their captains, acknowledging that the incident had caused harm beyond those who directly received the materials.
It also forfeited its matches during the competition, although the tournament continued with other participating teams.
The controversy gained wider attention after Howard University’s club tennis team publicly raised concerns about the graphic.
Howard team president Toni Rachal said the image appeared on the first page of the tournament programme, beneath the University of Maryland club tennis logo.
According to the Howard team, the graphic incorporated hooded figures associated with the KKK into elements resembling the Maryland state flag.
The team condemned the imagery, describing it as a symbol of racial hatred and intimidation.
Following the complaints, the University of Maryland’s Recreation and Wellness department announced the suspension of the club tennis team while the university’s Office of Student Conduct investigated the incident.
The department acknowledged that the actions might have involved only a limited number of team members but said the suspension would remain in effect pending the outcome of the investigation.
The matter was also referred to the University of Maryland Police Department, which confirmed that an investigation was underway.
University President Darryll J. Pines condemned the imagery and apologised to members of the university community, particularly Black and African American students and members of the Howard University tennis team.
Pines described the incident as deeply offensive and reaffirmed the institution’s responsibility to maintain a respectful and inclusive learning environment.
The university’s Black Student Union also called for meaningful action beyond disciplinary measures.
Its vice-president, Aniya Baker, urged the institution to strengthen accountability, improve education about racism and demonstrate sustained support for Black students.
Meanwhile, the Maryland tennis team confirmed that it had donated to the National Museum of African American History and Culture following a request from Howard University’s team.
It also pledged to participate in educational programmes addressing racial discrimination, historical hate symbols and their impact on affected communities.
The investigation is expected to determine how the graphic was included in the tournament materials, who was responsible for its preparation and distribution, and whether further disciplinary action is warranted.
The university has not announced a final disciplinary decision against individual team members.
