TO THE EDITOR:
I am a 2005 Kenan-Flagler Business School alumnus and now live overseas. A fellow alum whose brother is at UNC now and lives in the Morrison community called me today and told me a story neither one of us could believe.
The other day, his brother’s RA came in and said, “Walking by, I happened to see something hanging on your wall that is not allowed and needs to be taken down.”
The item in question was not sexually explicit, religiously offensive or racially insensitive; rather, it was an American flag. Old Glory. Having lived all four years on campus, I know that the RA’s have their hands full most of the time, but I have to say that whatever policy RHA has that does not allow hanging our national flag is a bit over the top.
UNC has always been a place where students are encouraged to explore new ideas and express themselves, as well as to engage others. If students are not allowed to be themselves in their own rooms, in how they decorate and live (to the extent that taste and safety allow), how can they be expected to venture questions and ideas anywhere else on campus?
I can’t believe it needs to be said, but hopefully students will be allowed a little more latitude when expressing themselves with something as mild as hanging the same flag that has proudly flown in Polk Place and across campus throughout our 218 year history.
Aaron O’Hare
Class of 2005
