The University of Kentucky faculty of the African American and African Studies program has asked the school to rename Rupp Arena.
In a letter sent to UK President Eli Capilouto, the AAAS program has called for the name of Rupp Arena to be changed as part of the school’s push to improve race relations on campus. They believe that the name of Adolph Rupp is too associated with racism to remain in the arena that houses one of the best university basketball programs.
“The name of Adolph Rupp has come to represent racism and exclusion in UK athletics and alienates black students, fans and assistants,” the letter said. “The rebuilding of the arena and the convention center offer the opportunity to change the name to a much more inclusive one, such as Wildcat Arena.”
The issue of Rupp being accused of racism is largely due to what many perceived as a failure to lead in the age of integration during his time as a coach in the UK from 1930 to 1972. It wasn’t until 1969 that Tom Payne became the first African American basketball player in the UK when he signed to play for Rupp.
Some great learning tools to use in Rupp’s story can be found in Big Blue History, as well as Dick Gabriel’s investigation into this complicated story of the former UK coach. There is also a good article on the subject by Jerry Tipton.
The full faculty letter can be viewed here.
It is too early to say what, if anything will really come out of this, but there is clearly an urge now within the UK campus to remove Rupp’s name from the arena that bears his name since 1976.
