Do you agree with the student senators at the University of Mississippi who voted in favor of the removal of the Mississippi flag that includes the blue cross and 13 stars that represent the states of the Confederacy?
Julia Nojeim ‘19: “I think there’s no harm in trying to, considering that the United States is now united and that the Confederacy isn’t [valued] anymore. So I think it’s a good idea to try and get it out, but I understand since it’s the state’s history if the government doesn’t want to — that makes sense, but I think there’s no harm in trying.”
Jocelyn Boryczka, Chair of the Politics Department: “I am in support of the students. Indeed, the Confederate flag is a recently constructed symbol. It’s not a symbol that’s always been there and it harbors and represents to many others a heritage of oppression, of racism, of slavery that don’t match with the values of our country — of freedom, equality and inclusion. So I completely support what the students are saying. While it may represent for some that it’s their heritage, it’s really not a part of their heritage that they need to be overly proud of, I think. And that sometimes when the harm principle comes into play, then we circumscribe people’s right to use certain language and certain symbols. And in this case, the harm to those who see that flag and see it’s representation of racism, oppression, slavery and equality constraint and exclusion — I think that far outweighs the arguments on the side of ‘It’s a symbol that represents my heritage.’ Sometimes we sacrifice those things.”
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