USM President Bennett orders the state flag taken down
University of Southern Mississippi President Rodney Bennett ordered the Mississippi state flag taken down on all Southern Miss campuses Oct. 28. The flag contains the Confederate battle emblem and some find it a painful reminder of slavery and segregation.
In an email to students, Bennett said, "While I love the state of Mississippi, there is passionate disagreement about the current state flag on our campuses and in our communities.
"I am looking forward to a time when this debate is resolved and USM raises a state flag that unites us."
Tamara Hurst, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, was happy to see Bennett's email.
"I am delighted that our administration and President Bennett have taken such a proactive approach to something that could have been so divisive to our student body," she said. "I understand people's concern about the history of this flag, but the views the symbol represents are hurtful and hateful."
Gov. Phil Bryant, a Southern Miss alumnus, issued the same statement he has in the past on the issue.
“Mississippians overwhelmingly voted in 2001 to adopt the current Mississippi state flag," he said. "I believe publicly funded institutions should respect the law as it is written today. It clearly states ‘The state flag shall receive all the respect and ceremonious etiquette given the American flag.’ ”
Campus police took down the USM and state flags shortly before a noon protest over the state flag.
About 20 students and faculty members gathered at the school's entrance for the protest, which was organized by Susan Hrostowski, an associate professor of social work.
"It's an offensive symbol to many, many people around the country and around the world," she said. "It should not be flown over public buildings."
The University of Mississippi removed the state flag from its campus Oct. 26, days after the student senate, the faculty senate and other groups adopted a student-led resolution calling for removal of the banner.
Jeffrey George, president of the Southern Miss Student Government Association, said in an earlier story that the issue of the flag had been raised by students. He said SGA senators would be listening carefully to concerns regarding the flag.
Holly Fedele, a graduate student in the School of Social Work, agreed the flag should not represent the state or be flown at Southern Miss.
"It is a symbol of oppression from the past, and it should be changed to a new design," she said.
Two students arrived at the protest carrying a Confederate flag.
Ian Shurden, a junior recreational therapy major, said the Confederate flag was a symbol of history.
"The flag is never going to be erased from our memory," he said. "This is my Southern heritage. I'm Southern born, Southern bred and when I die, I'll be Southern dead."
Christine Miller, a junior psychology major, thought the state flag should remain flying.
"If we need to celebrate how far we've come by forgetting our history, (history) will repeat itself," she said. "Not all the people who are in favor of the flag — Christians, Islam and other groups are not hateful."
Marie Adkinson, residential life coordinator, came to the protest after seeing an email about it.
"We are all about change," she said. "Ole Miss has changed. We just wanted to come out here and show our support."
Anita Casey, a sophomore in the School of Social Work, also said she joined the protest to support removing the flag.
"I'm ready for Mississippi to become more progressive and more forward," she said.
Hrostowski said she was "delighted" to see Bennett's email, but she said she didn't want to influence anyone's personal choice.
"People need to understand we are happy for them to fly (the state flag) at their own home or in the back of their truck or on a T-shirt," she said. "Whatever they want to do as a private citizen, but it should not be used to represent our public buildings."
Entire text of Rodney Bennett's Oct. 28 email
"I have chosen to raise American flags on all University of Southern Mississippi flagpoles to remind the University Community of what unites us. We have all chosen to work, study and live in a country in which debates like those around the state flag of Mississippi can take place and ideas can be civilly expressed and advanced. While I love the state of Mississippi, there is passionate disagreement about the current state flag on our campuses and in our communities. I am looking forward to a time when this debate is resolved and USM raises a state flag that unites us."