The nephrology department at the University of California, Los Angeles is the latest organization to disassociate itself from Donald Sterling over his racist remarks.
On Tuesday, UCLA announced that it would not accept Sterling’s $3 million pledge to the school’s kidney-research department, and would return its initial $425,000 installment. The university released a statement about its decision:
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. For those reasons, UCLA has decided to return Mr. Sterling’s initial payment of $425,000 and reject the remainder of a $3 million pledge he recently made to support basic kidney research by the UCLA Division of Nephrology.
UCLA announced its decision shortly after NBA commissioner Adam Silver gave Sterling a lifetime league ban as well as a maximum $2.5 million fine. Silver said he will urge the league owners to vote to strip Sterling of the team, which requires three-quarters support from the owners. Sterling reportedly has no plans to sell the team prior to the owners’ vote.