The African-American and Africana Studies (AAAS) faculty at the University of Kentucky have asked for several things from president Eli Capilouto, including the name change for Rupp Arena.
Here is an excerpt of a letter that was sent to Capilouto about Rupp Arena:
The University should rename Rupp Arena. The Adolph Rupp name has come to stand for racism and exclusion in UK athletics and alienates Black students, fans, and attendees. The rebuilding of the arena and the convention center offer an opportunity to change the name to a far more inclusive one, such as Wildcat Arena. In addition, the University should survey all campus buildings and remove all names of enslavers, Confederate sympathizers (such as William C.P. Breckinridge), and other white supremacists.
Some other things that are highlighted in the letter:
* We ask that the University make every effort to ensure that UK and its contractors maintain the current percentages of Black staff at every level as we weather the current financial environment and commit to increasing diversity among the staff at all levels.
* The entire University should require a course on race and inequality for all undergraduates.
* The University must increase Black representation among faculty to 15%, which reflects the Black population of Lexington.
* The University must appoint more Black faculty and staff to leadership positions.
* The University must increase support for Black students.
* The University must establish a system or systems of accountability for individuals who commit racist and other acts of discrimination on campus.
* The University should join the Universities Studying Slavery collective and initiate a major study of the histories of slavery and racism within the institution.
* The University should institute a policy that minimizes its cooperation with federal state and local law enforcement agencies including Immigration Customs and Enforcement (I.C.E) and the Lexington Police Department.
* The University should rename Rupp Arena.
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