JACKSON, Miss. -- The University of Mississippi has removed the state flag on its Oxford campus Monday morning because the banner contains the Confederate battle emblem, which some see as a painful reminder of slavery and segregation.
Interim Chancellor Morris Stocks ordered the flag lowered and said it was being sent to the university's archives.
The action came days after the student senate, the faculty senate and other groups adopted a student-led resolution calling for removal of the banner from campus.
"As Mississippi's flagship university, we have a deep love and respect for our state,'' Stocks said in a statement Monday. "Because the flag remains Mississippi's official banner, this was a hard decision. I understand the flag represents tradition and honor to some. But to others, the flag means that some members of the Ole Miss family are not welcomed or valued.''
Since 1894, the Mississippi flag has had the Confederate battle emblem in the upper left corner -- a blue X with 13 white stars, over a field of red. Residents chose to keep the flag during a 2001 statewide vote.
The University of Mississippi has struggled with Old South symbolism for decades. Administrators have tried to distance the school from Confederate symbols. Sports teams are still called the Rebels, but the university several years ago retired the Colonel Rebel mascot -- a white-haired old man some thought resembled a plantation owner. The university also banned sticks in the football stadium nearly 20 years ago, which eliminated most Confederate battle flags that fans carried.
"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,'' Stocks said in the statement Monday. "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.''
Ole Miss removes Mississippi state flag with Confederate emblem from campus
Interim Chancellor Morris Stocks ordered the flag lowered and said it was being sent to the university's archives.
The action came days after the student senate, the faculty senate and other groups adopted a student-led resolution calling for removal of the banner from campus.
"As Mississippi's flagship university, we have a deep love and respect for our state,'' Stocks said in a statement Monday. "Because the flag remains Mississippi's official banner, this was a hard decision. I understand the flag represents tradition and honor to some. But to others, the flag means that some members of the Ole Miss family are not welcomed or valued.''
Since 1894, the Mississippi flag has had the Confederate battle emblem in the upper left corner -- a blue X with 13 white stars, over a field of red. Residents chose to keep the flag during a 2001 statewide vote.
The University of Mississippi has struggled with Old South symbolism for decades. Administrators have tried to distance the school from Confederate symbols. Sports teams are still called the Rebels, but the university several years ago retired the Colonel Rebel mascot -- a white-haired old man some thought resembled a plantation owner. The university also banned sticks in the football stadium nearly 20 years ago, which eliminated most Confederate battle flags that fans carried.
"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,'' Stocks said in the statement Monday. "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.''
Ole Miss removes Mississippi state flag with Confederate emblem from campus
good lord that payroll gotta be something serious
That's why I still look at Patrick Willis some type of way the way he reps that shyt.