Another Mississippi university has stopped flying the state flag that prominently features the Confederate battle emblem.
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“Since 2001, Mississippi State University’s Faculty Senate”. In keeping with that process, requests were made recently to replace the MS flag in several locations with a larger American flag to better conform to our very large American flag which flies over the Drill Field (MSU’s primary campus green space), and Dr. Keenum approved those requests.
Prior to the recent removal of the state flag from several locations on campus, MSU had already taken the state flag down from the flag pole on the Drill Field – the highest one on campus – flying only the American flag instead.
Since 1894, the MS flag has had the Confederate battle emblem in its upper left corner – a blue X with 13 white stars, over a field of red. In 2001, both the Student Association Senate and the Faculty Senate called for MS to choose a new state flag.
Salter said Mississippi’s flag remains part of a display of state and worldwide flags in the university’s main cafeteria.
Salter said Mississippi’s flag remains part of a display of the flags of all 50 states and other nations in the university’s main cafeteria.
The University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi removed state flags a year ago. A statement from that school Tuesday opened the door to removing it if the university cabinet votes to do so.
Delta State University school continues to fly the state flag, school spokeswoman Jennifer Farish said Tuesday.
The action is a quiet turn from Keenum’s previous indication that the state flag would continue to fly on campus grounds.
At one point during that protest, a small group of students gathered in support of the state flag, shouting, “We want the flag!” She said she learned over the summer that the flags had been removed.
Mississippi’s flag has been criticized as a symbol of racial oppression.
“Taking the state flag down arbitrarily is a symbolic gesture that accomplishes nothing toward actually changing the state flag to something that everyone can support and feel good about”, he said then. There seems to be a consensus that the flag should be changed, and that State government leaders should make that change.
The decisions, however, have done little to sway state policy.
Since July 2015, JFP readers have submitted designs for a new Mississippi Flag.
The Republican cited a state law that calls for Mississippi’s flag to “receive all of the respect and ceremonious etiquette given the American flag” if displayed.
The section, which goes on to state, “It shall be the duty of the board of trustees of the school district to provide for the flags and their display”, however, does not reference institutions of higher learning. “Delta State is leading conversations about race relations and building stronger communities – most notably through the award-winning race relations conference”.
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In a previous statement addressing USM’s removal of the state flag at its Hattiesburg campus, Bryant indicated publicly funded institutions should respect MS law, since it grants the state flag “all the respect and ceremonious etiquette given the American flag”. Any change to Delta State’s decision to fly the State flag will be made by this representative group, and will be informed by input from Delta State’s various constituencies.
