UCLA to reject $3M pledge from Donald Sterling, will return $425K donation received
By Kristen Taketa
April 29, 2014 2:52 p.m.
UCLA will return a $425,000 donation that Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling gave the university for kidney research, saying his recent comments are “racist and extraordinarily repugnant.”
UCLA will also reject the remainder of the total $3 million pledge Sterling promised to the UCLA Division of Nephrology, according to a statement.
Sterling has come under fire for a recording in which the Clippers owner makes racist comments about black individuals. He has been denounced by prominent officials, including President Barack Obama and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. On Tuesday, the National Basketball Association banned Sterling for life from any association with the Clippers and fined him $2.5 million.
TMZSports.com reported Tuesday that two NBA lawyers have confirmed the recording to be of Sterling’s voice.
“Mr. Sterling’s divisive and hurtful comments demonstrate that he does not share UCLA’s core values as a public university that fosters diversity, inclusion and respect,” UCLA said in the statement Tuesday.
UCLA recently received several inquiries about an ad that was placed in the Sunday edition of the Los Angeles Times, in which it appears UCLA is thanking Sterling and his wife Shelly for their donation to the nephrology division.
The ad claims that a gold-colored plaque will be placed in the main lobby of UCLA’s nephrology building in honor of the Sterlings. It also claims UCLA plans to name a research lab in their name, “The UCLA Donald T. Sterling Structural Biology Kidney Research Laboratory.”
However, UCLA said it did not place the ad in the paper. It said the ad falsely suggests the university is publicly thanking Sterling for the donation.
UCLA said it thinks Sterling placed the ad in the paper.
Documentation concerning the donation does not address any signage or naming of a research laboratory, according to a UCLA statement.
The Daily Bruin could not reach Sterling or a spokesman for comment.
Compiled by Kristen Taketa, Bruin senior staff.
