The Southeastern Conference, Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi made public pushes Thursday for Mississippi to drop the Confederate symbol from the state flag.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey issued a statement that indicated the league might ban its championship events from being held in the state barring a change in the flag.
Mississippi State university president Mark Keenum and athletic director John Cohen quickly followed with their own statements advocating for the state to alter the flag.
Ole Miss chancellor Glenn Boyce and athletic director Keith Carter echoed those sentiments in a joint statement.
Sankey’s statement read, in part, “It is past time for change to be made to the flag of the State of Mississippi. Our students deserve an opportunity to learn and compete in environments that are inclusive and welcoming to all.”
Cohen wrote, “We are disappointed that our student-athletes and coaches will potentially be affected by something outside of their control. At the same time, we understand and support commissioner Greg Sankey’s stance on the flag of the state of Mississippi. Mississippi State University is proud to be among the most diverse universities in the SEC. Alongside our university leadership, we aim to continue our support for changing the state flag, which should unite us, not divide us.”
Keenum added, “I have great respect for Commissioner Greg Sankey, and I understand why he has taken this position regarding Mississippi’s state flag. Clearly, the current national climate is such that this debate may produce unintended consequences for our student athletes here at Mississippi State University and those at the University of Mississippi.
“In addition, there may be similar unintended consequences for academic pursuits at our all our state’s public universities and negative economic impacts on the state’s communities as well.
“Since 2015, our Student Association, Robert Holland Faculty Senate and university administration have been firmly on record in support of changing the state flag. I have reiterated that view to our state’s leaders on multiple occasions, including during face-to-face discussions in recent days and hours.
“On June 12, I wrote to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the Mississippi House reaffirming that support. The letter said, in part, that our flag should be unifying, not a symbol that divides us. I emphasized that it is time for a renewed, respectful debate on this issue.”
Boyce and Carter wrote, “The University of Mississippi community concluded years ago that the Confederate battle flag did not represent many of our core values, such as civility and respect for others. In 2015, the university stopped flying the state flag over our campus. Mississippi needs a flag that represents the qualities about our state that unite us, not those that still divide us.
“We support the SEC’s position for changing the Mississippi state flag to an image that is more welcoming and inclusive for all people.”
The SEC has not regularly placed its title events in Mississippi. According to the (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion Ledger, Mississippi State was the site of the 2016 SEC softball tournament in Starkville, and Ole Miss played host to the 2011 SEC softball tourney in Oxford.
Another SEC school announced a change to reflect changing views on Southern heritage. The University of Florida is dropping its “Gator Bait” rallying cry due to the phrases’ racist history.
