LSU's Confederate Flag -- Is it banned? Why does it matter?
At Louisiana State University, over the past month or so, an annual debate has resurfaced with greater intensity than ever. The debate is over the purple and gold confederate or rebel flag.Here at LSU this symbol that means so much to so many is often flown on LSU football game days. Recently our school paper – The Daily Reveille – reported that a new student organization named the Student Equity Commission was created to accomplish three tasks:
1. Get a ban on the Confederate flag passed by the administration at LSU
2. More funding for minority programs
3. More aggressive minority recruitment
In response, the Chancellor’s office has held a press conference and issued the following statement:
“…I want to make the university's position on this issue very clear. LSU does not consider this flag an appropriate symbol of pride or association with this university, as many in our LSU family find the flag to be offensive. LSU discourages the use and display of this flag, and the university has not and will not license the use of its colors and/or trademarks for use on such a flag. LSU has also made this position known to flag, specialty advertising, and retail businesses that sell LSU items or engage in the authorized promotion of the University.Despite efforts by the administration, the Student Equity Commission continues to work until the flag is banned. But wait. Maybe it already is?
Because of LSU's firm belief in the First Amendment and its right of free speech, the University cannot and will not ban or prohibit these flags or any other symbols that our students or fans choose to display. To do so would contest the constitutional right of free speech or expression – a principle we hold sacrosanct. But that does not mean that the University sanctions this flag or any other symbols that encourage intolerance or provoke divisiveness. The First Amendment guarantees free speech, but not responsible speech. We ask all those who claim pride and allegiance to LSU, or the South, to refrain from displaying symbols that many find offensive. Pride in LSU is best shown by flying the LSU flag…”
In one of my political communication classes (which is led by Charles Zewe, a doctoral student in the Manship School of Mass Communication and a spokesman for the LSU System), he informed us that there is, indeed, an LSU policy statement that could be interpreted as a ban of all flags not approved by the university (including the purple and gold confederate flag), other than the United States and Louisiana flags.
This policy is Policy Statement 66.
After reading it, the document – to me – did not seem like a ban of all flags including the Purple and Gold Confederate flag. Instead, it seems to only apply to State and Federal flags. However, when I asked my professor further about this issue, he again confirmed that some people interpret the policy statement as a ban of all flags not approved by the University. VERY Interesting.
From the beginning of this movement to ban the flag, the administration has tried to keep the situation under tight control. In the Reveille article mentioned above, it discusses how if the Chancellor held a press conference saying he was against the flag, the Student Equity Commission agreed not to protest and, instead, they held a “unity rally.” Needless to say, a press conference took place.
Why? And how does this apply to the rebuilding of New Orleans?
If this issue gets national coverage – as it could – then this blatant show of racism by so many LSU fans could enforce what so many saw during the Hurricane and that is a divide down racial lines.
During Hurricane Katrina, many people pointed out how it seemed like all African-Americans who were left in the city as it flooded. Kanye West went as far as saying, “George Bush didn’t care about black people.”
To have LSU and LSU fans (mainly Louisiana natives) look “racist” to the rest of the world by flying the Rebel flag could affect the amount of money we receive in federal aid. To me, it seems that is most likely the University and the LSU System’s real worry. As a state and a university system, we need money now more than ever. So…
The Student Equity Commission continues to push for the ban. Others students stand by our right to fly the flag. All the while, our Chancellor Sean O’Keefe says the university cannot and will not make such a policy. But, do they have one already?
Zewe, a LSU System spokesman, says O’Keefe has been informed about PS-66 and the possible interpretation of this policy as a ban of the flag.
The Chancellor is probably worried about the safety issues behind enforcing this policy and the backlash it could produce. That seems like a reasonable fear. And as I said before, they want to keep the protests quiet because if they got media coverage, the university and the state could suffer.
However, what if the media finds out we have a policy that can be interpreted as a ban of the purple and gold rebel flag that our university is not enforcing? What then? Doesn’t that reinforce the images and theme that surrounded Hurricane Katrina? Will that affect the funds pouring into Louisiana? By not taking a stronger stand on this issue and trying to quiet all involved, is LSU A&M and Chancellor O’Keefe making the best move?
Only time will tell.
posted by Jessie Tucker @ 11/15/2005
4 Comments:
I agree with your assumption that by flying the rebel flag on our campus we are sending the wrong image to the rest of the world. However, I think a ban on the flag would create backlash, not only in the form of protests and increase in tension between the two sides, but many traditional monetary contributors to the University could possibly disagree with the ban and threaten to halt their donations. I think this is a factor that could explain the University's reluctance to take a more decisive stance on the issue.
The image issue is crucial, but, of course, banning the flag--or rather claiming that LSU is private property and can ban anything it want--will further raise the profile of the controversy. I would be surprised if LSU would win the subsequent lawsuit, but at least the administration could say that it tried. It really is a "lose-lose" situation. But. . .the reasons so many people in the rest of the country don't trust Louisiana enough to finance a "new" New Orleans have more to do with perceptions (and realities) of corruption rather than the ghosts of the Confederacy.
Arman,
Although I agree it could upset some alumni, their donations compared to the relief offered by the federal government are in no way comparable.
LSU's endowment is only about 200 million (EXTREMELY low) and, although, we need that money now more than ever, I still think losing federal funding for the entire state is a much greater threat.
policybyblog,
I totally agree. Outsiders are skeptical of the spending habits of our state because of our corrupt reputation. However, I think the flag issue, given more coverage, would just be an easy issue to judge us on. It is further evidence that Louisiana is, indeed, as bad as they suspected.
And, actually, it could be worse. So many people are already suspect of the government. A resident of Iowa might know our state officials have been corrupt in the past but would still want to give money (because they think their officials are corrupt too). They wouldn't necessarily deny relief to the citizens because of bad politicians. However, when the citizens themselves demonstrate ignorance and racism, it is "only right" to offer less support.
In this day and age, who wants to fund ignorant racists? (I don't think that is a judgment fairly passed on citizens of Louisiana but it is an easy generalization to make if you are an outsider).
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