Former prof. says plans for Temple Univ. stadium is white supremacy
A former African-American studies professor thinks Temple University’s proposed football stadium is an example of white supremacy.
Temple University’s Board of Trustees has decided to construct a new football stadium on the 1500 block of Norris Street in North Philadelphia. Last week, however, Dr. Anthony Monteiro, a former professor, and a group of students and community members irately claimed the stadium is harmful to them.
Critics of the stadium, which would reside on university property, are worried the new attraction will harm the community; the new stadium would replace a recreation center, a playground, a swimming pool, and artificial turf athletic field. Additionally, residents have concerns over parking and traffic.
Temple’s football team currently plays at Lincoln Financial Field, the home stadium of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, which is located miles away from the urban campus.
Dr. Monteiro, a former professor at Temple whose contract was not renewed, allegedly because he had complained about another instructor not qualifying for a chairman position in the College of Liberal Arts, has criticized Temple’s trustees and says the stadium issue is one of race.
"This is an issue of white supremacy," he told a crowd of protesters according to Philadelphia Magazine. "Who's running the show? White corporate men. This is an institution founded on white supremacy. They tell students when they come here that they should be afraid of the black people."
Monteiro also delivered a message to the President of the Philadelphia City Council, Darrell Clarke, in hopes that he can stop the stadium’s production.
"Darrell Clarke, get on the side of the people. Speak up. How are you going to give all of this away with nothing in return?" Monteiro reportedly said. "This is a form of genocide. North Philadelphia is not just a location. It's a spiritual universe."
Philadelphia’s mayor-elect Jim Kenney has come out against the idea of a new stadium, even though it would be on school property.
“If the Eagles were living up to their commitment to Philadelphia and our public university, just as the Steelers live up to their commitment to Pittsburgh by renting their stadium for free to Pitt's football team, there wouldn't be a need for a stadium at Temple University," Kenney told Philadelphia Business Journal in an email. "There'd also be a winning team down at Lincoln Financial Field for a refreshing change.”
The university has reportedly put its plans for a new stadium on hold.
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