MSU's flag statement:

[esplanade91]

STATEMENT FROM MSU ON THE STATE FLAG ISSUE:
“Like all people of good will, Mississippi State University abhors the senseless violence that was visited on the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, and we grieve with the families of the victims. In 2001, the MSU Faculty Senate voted overwhelmingly in support of changing the state flag of Mississippi prior to the failed statewide voter referendum on that question. Other than lawful displays of the state flag, the symbols in question are not associated with our university. As the most diverse university in the Southeastern Conference and the most diverse of the original land-grant universities in the country, Mississippi State remains committed to diversity, inclusion, equal opportunity and a culture of fellowship, tolerance and peace. That’s true in our academic offerings and in our athletics programs as well.”

 

[8dog]

Weak. Disappointing

 

[SheltonChoked]

I like it.

MSU comes out and says that it has been against the flag for 14 years. And our diversity.

 

[ShrubDog]

I see no problem with the statement. MSU has no stance on the state flag at this time. Its an educational machine not a NLP driven politcial outlet.

 

[GloryDawg]

If they had another referendum today the flag still would not change. You would have Duck Dynasty looking logger heads walking out of the woods who hasn't voted since the last referendum to vote. I did not vote in the last. It was a protest reason for not voting. We elect represenative to make those decisions and they pass the ball to the voters because they had no guts. How much did that cost the state? ( Plus it was a non biding vote) Cowards!


The magnolia flag would be a good compromise. It keeps the heritage everyone talks about and removes the negative that everyone else talks about.<o></o

 

[8dog]

No it said the faculty senate voted against it 14 years ago. They threw that in there as smoke.

 

[ShrubDog]

Yes they did and it was a smart way to say were they stood back then and probably stand now. Let the chips fall.

That is what I meant by saying they have no stance now. But it is understood.

Regardless the flag seems like its going to change. Lets get it right and move on to more important things.

 

[SheltonChoked]

So the faculty of MSU does not represent the university's ideals? Huh. Good to know.

Too bad they put in that they only fly the flag where they have to as it is not associated with our university.

 

[patdog]

John Stennis's granddaughter has come up with a pretty good looking alternative flag for Mississippi.

Link

 

[missouridawg]

Why does everyone keep throwing the "MSU is an educational institution, not a political driven outlet" stuff? Leaders lead. There's a symbol on the state flag that is synonymous with slavery and hatred. Regardless of if that's accurate or not, that's what the symbol stands for in the eyes of many, many Americans.

Why can't we step forward, be a leader in the state of MS, and fight to change something that offends a very, very large swatch of the constituents of the university, the state, and the country?

 

[Rog.sixpack]

No, the faculty senate doesn't wholly reflect the University's ideals

That was simple cover to not catch **** from the anti-flag crowd.

 

[johnson86-1]

Why can't we step forward, be a leader in the state of MS, and fight to change something that offends a very, very large swatch of the constituents of the university, the state, and the country?

If this is true (and I think it plausibly is), then coming out against the flag would not constitute being a leader. It would be going where the political winds blow us.

 

[ShrubDog]

Come on man. Yes MSU could be a leader and speak out against this issue. But at the end of the day its the peoples/students decision and not MSU's. For all we know some of our biggest donors could be flaggers.

 

[aTotal360]

She must work for Adidas.***

 

[121Josey]

Why does everyone keep throwing the "MSU is an educational institution, not a political driven outlet" stuff? Leaders lead. There's a symbol on the state flag that is synonymous with slavery and hatred. Regardless of if that's accurate or not, that's what the symbol stands for in the eyes of many, many Americans.

Priceless. Maybe the university should educate people on both sides of the debate instead of taking sides. Maybe Mississippi universities learned their lesson on taking sides during the civil rights movement.

Why can't we step forward, be a leader in the state of MS, and fight to change something that offends a very, very large swatch of the constituents of the university, the state, and the country?

If it very, very, very much offends the plethora, plethora, plethora, plethora of constituents of the university, then why did the majority, majority, majority of the last vote on it vote not to change. Maybe in a few, few, few years, people will get tired of having this debate and just, just, just vote to change it.

 

[121Josey]

I laughed.

 

[missouridawg]

If this is true (and I think it plausibly is), then coming out against the flag would not constitute being a leader. It would be going where the political winds blow us.

There have been very, very, very few vocal mouthpieces that have come out against the flag that have such large constituent bases as MSU. Being a leader, in this case, would entail something as big as a major university standing against this in unison.

I hear your point though.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

O Mississip'! My home and native land...

 

[Rog.sixpack]

The legislature changed our flag in 1894 so there's precedent for them to do it.

The governor et al are hiding under the guise of the 2001 referendum, which was non-binding by the way.

I must've missed where Phil Bryant asked all the people to vote on changing the Seal of the state before doing it last year.

But in reality, the Leg sure as **** isn't going to touch the issue without a referendum, especially since the State's major universities are being pussies about it.

 

[00Dawg]

Excellent.

It shows that our university can be a trendsetter, but doesn't really risk loss of support from alumni, politicos, or the general public in Mississippi. That's just the kind of tight-roping I hoped to see.

 

[randystewart]

I think the statement is pretty clear where MSU stands on the flag

Other than lawful displays of the state flag, the symbols in question are not associated with our university.

A public university should NEVER get overly involved in something political like this. That is smart leadership. The statement says everything that MSU needs to say on the subject without drawing MSU into the line of fire (PR 101).

 

[RebelBruiser]

The governor et al are hiding under the guise of the 2001 referendum, which was non-binding by the way.

I must've missed where Phil Bryant asked all the people to vote on changing the Seal of the state before doing it last year.

But in reality, the Leg sure as **** isn't going to touch the issue without a referendum, especially since the State's major universities are being pussies about it.

I thought the Ole Miss statement was pretty straightforward.

The University of Mississippi community came to the realization years ago that the confederate battle flag did not represent many of our core values such as civility and respect for others. Since that time, we have become a stronger and better university. We join other leaders in our state who are calling for a change in the state flag.
-Acting Chancellor Morris H. Stocks

And of course our AD retweeted that and added that he had signed the petition to remove the flag, saying "It's Time!".

I think that's a pretty clear stance. No waffling there.

The funny thing is, the majority of sentiment I've seen from our fans has been in support of those statements made by Bjork and Stocks. There are obviously some who dissent, but it's mostly supportive. I'm proud of the way our leadership stood up on this issue and left no question as to the university's stance on the issue.

This is a really easy issue.

 

[uptowndawg]

So she wants to use the north korea flag?

 

[codeDawg]

I think the statement is pretty clear where MSU stands on the flag


A public university should NEVER get overly involved in something political like this. That is smart leadership. The statement says everything that MSU needs to say on the subject without drawing MSU into the line of fire (PR 101).

I agree. As strongly as I feel that MS should make the change, there is no incentive for MSU to put out a strongly worded statement on the matter. Ole Miss had to because of their recent (and long standing) association with the flag. MSU does not. Let them defend their position. We don't have a "disassociation" story to tell.

 

[OleMissLogo]

especially since the State's major universities are being pussies about it.

No, YOUR university is being a "*****" about it.

Ole Miss released a statement (well before MSU) advocating a change in the flag AND the chancellor and AD signed the petition.

 

[esplanade91]

I'm implore you to read the comments from the Facebook page. "Down in front, staytes' riiiiiiiiieeeghts!"

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Looks like a combination of the Bonnie Blue and Stars and Bars.

.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

The crap people type with their real names attached never ceases to amaze me

People are ********

 

[dawgstudent]

Thanks to Ole Miss for being the leader in race relations** but I do agree that MSU's statement was rather weak.

 

[BiscuitEater]

Yea ..

I thought the Ole Miss statement was pretty straightforward

They were 'so' straightforward when they BANNED sticks in VH .. instead of the Confederate Battle Flag.

And they were really straightforward when they distanced the University from even using the term 'OLE MISS' .. except for sports. How did that work for Dan Jones?

Oh yea. I remember .. he was FIRED him six months later.

 

[anon1787432961]

S. D. Lee was a Confederate general. How far do you go?

 

[ShrubDog]

Just don't go as far as Old Miss and have klan rallies. Heck maybe they already signed a petition against them.

 

[DancingRabbit]

That's OK. Should have made a reference to the "Rebel Flag".

nm

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

You do realize it's unconstitutional to ban the flag, sticks were the workaround

 

[esplanade91]

S. D. Lee was a Confederate general. How far do you go?

Well I don't know, is S. D. Lee synonymous with racism?

People are acting like "the liberal agenda" has come out of no where to make everything PC. We're just the last to the show. The only other state with the rebel flag in their state flag changed it BACK DURING Y2K!!!!

 

[DancingRabbit]

"and some years ago, in 2014, we renamed Confederate Drive"

nm

 

[Maroonthirteen]

I'm shocked***

The CL writers and 6pack portion of MSUs fan base finds fault in the University's statement.

The OM statement is viewed as genius by all.

MSU is set to release another statement at noon. Who needs enemies with fans like ours.

 

[ArcherSPS]

It's 12 after.

 

[00Dawg]

Why? You're never going to satisfy everyone in this day and age. Random Facebook Joe and John are always going to plaster their opinions for all to see, usually in as virulent a manner as possible, and the comments section should never be used as a barometer for how the majority of people actually view something.
Our university took a nice middle road of stating their opinion on the matter without risking dollars.

 

[coach66]

Well, it fired up Nafoom and got Jughead's creative juices flowing so I'm gonna

give it a B+.