Univ. Of Kentucky Faculty Group Looks To Rename Rupp Arena

A UK spokesperson promised further reform but did not specifically address renaming RuppGETTY IMAGES

The faculty of the African American & Africana Studies program at the Univ. of Kentucky are “calling for the name of Rupp Arena to be changed as part of their recommendations for improving race relations on campus,” according to Jon Hale of the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL. The proposal to rename Rupp Arena was on a list of 10 “suggested reforms” sent to UK President Eli Capilouto. UK spokesperson Jay Blanton in a statement “promised further reform from the university but did not specifically address the proposal to rename Rupp Arena.” Rupp's recruitment of Black players at UK “has long been a point of contention.” The Lexington Center Corporation and UK in January announced “naming rights to the convention center surrounding Rupp Arena, which is undergoing a $275 million renovation and expansion, had been sold to Central Bank but that the name of Rupp Arena would not change” (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 7/23).