The American flag: a symbol of freedom, democracy and unity for some. But for many Quakers, the symbolism itself is something to be scrutinized. The warlike spirit that it often represents is contrary to their beliefs of peace and pacifism.
Guilford College has traditionally prohibited the public display of flags of any kind. However, recently, this policy has proven to cause more discord than harmony.
On Sept. 11, Guilford College Republicans president Harrison Houlihan, alongside fellow Republican Taylor Knox, hung an American flag off of the balcony of Founders Hall.
“I wanted to remind students what day it was,” said Houlihan. “13 years is a long time.”
They had full knowledge of the flag policy at the time.
About four hours later, the college removed the flag.
Houlihan proceeded to display the flag in two different locations off of Founders Hall before having it confiscated and being documented by Public Safety.
Houlihan accepted this consequence, hoping that his actions would instigate a dialogue within the Guilford community.
“The policy is clearly flawed,” said Houlihan. “This campus isn’t a Quaker meeting house.”
Last year on the same date, the Guilford College Republicans put up over 2,000 small flags on campus without repercussions.
“When I was president, and (prior to), Guilford College never banned the American flag,” said Kent Chabotar, former president of the College.
Despite these claims, there were restrictions in previous years on where a flag could be displayed. Public spaces such as windows were not allowed. Houlihan believes the flags put up last year may have flown under the radar because removing every one would have been more trouble that it was worth.
Interim Dean of Students Jennifer Agor had a different story. She said that the removal of Houlihan’s flag this year had nothing to do with patriotism.
“They were supposed to ask for permission to hang something, and they didn’t,” said Agor. “It’s as simple as that.”
According to Director of Student Judicial Affairs Sandra Bowles, no standard written policy currently exists.
The assumption that flag display is taboo is simply set by precedent.
Regardless of the reasoning behind Houlihan’s documentation, the event itself has led students to reconsider the tradition.
“We’re a school that prides ourselves on honoring different views,” said sophomore Davia Young, who believes flag displays should be allowed if in an appropriate and respectful manner.
Nonetheless, the College is an institution that prides itself on upholding Quaker values. For that reason, there are others who wish for the policy to remain intact.
“It is not because Quakers don’t care about those who have perished,” said Larry Boggess, head of the Quaker Friends School.
“It is not because Quakers don’t love their country. Friends de-emphasize symbols, preferring direct experience and participation in the experiences the symbols represent.”
Houlihan hopes to find a middle ground. He is now working on a petition to make an exemption to the flag policy on Sept. 11 as well as on Veteran’s Day.
In a post on the Guilford College Republicans Facebook page, he shared this sentiment:
“I’ll be damned if we can’t fly our flag a year from today.”
Chris • Oct 10, 2014 at 2:06 pm
Adrienne,
I agree with your assessment of the situation. I see the students as grinding against the administration in an obvious effort to make a political statement. However, the decision of the school to disavow such symbolism is also a political statement.
A few years back the school placed a piece of art on display symbolizing 15,000,000 slaves attached to the seal of the United States. Let’s forget for a moment that the artist attributed an excess of 14,200,000 of the actual number sent to the United States; a fact that should have had any history professor on campus scratching his head. Obviously, the school didn’t have a problem with American symbolism in that exaggerated politically charged context. Likewise, in the library, we saw Jim Crow depictions in red white and blue. Once again, the school had no problem displaying American symbolism in disgrace. Indeed, it was only when a student displayed the colors, for right or wrong, in an effort of honor did the school object. That aside, I’m sure that even if the individual/individuals responsible had asked for permission, the administration would have looked passed their nature of approving negative American symbolism and hypocritically denied those students the same privilege; falling back on “school policy.”
It seems to me that Guilford College is fine if American symbolism is used to trash the country. When, however, a student dares to go as far as displaying such symbolism as a means of reverence and honor it becomes a school wide scandal. So at Guilford college American symbolism can only be used to demonstrate her sins. Is this Quakerism?
Anyone who pays a visit to the American Friends Service Committee website will get an answer to that question. Quakerism at Guilford falls directly within the AFSC stripe of mainly criticizing, and often slandering, the United States as racist, bigoted, imperialistic, sexist, homophobic, and greedy. My experience at Guilford likewise recognizes this reoccurring theme from the lectern. So for anyone who is confused as to why the school gleefully allows American symbolism in a negative light but shrieks in outrage if anyone dare do the opposite, know that the Quaker driven school policy is just as politically driven as the student/s who displayed our colors.
Chris • Oct 10, 2014 at 2:32 am
Adrienne,
I agree with your assessment of the situation. I see the students as grinding against the administration in an obvious effort to make a political statement. However, the decision of the school to disavow such symbolism is also a political statement.
A few years back the school placed a piece of art on display symbolizing 15,000,000 slaves attached to the seal of the United States. Let’s forget for a moment that the artist attributed an excess of 14,200,000 of the actual number sent to the United States; a fact that should have had any history professor on campus scratching his head. Obviously, the school didn’t have a problem with American symbolism in that exaggerated politically charged context. Likewise, in the library, we saw Jim Crow depictions in red white and blue. Once again, the school had no problem displaying American symbolism in disgrace. Indeed, it was only when a student displayed the colors, for right or wrong, in an effort of honor did the school object. That aside, I’m sure that even if the individual/individuals responsible had asked for permission, the administration would have looked passed their nature of approving negative American symbolism and hypocritically denied those students the same privilege; falling back on “school policy.”
It seems to me that Guilford College is fine if American symbolism is used to trash the country. When, however, a student dares to go as far as displaying such symbolism as a means of reverence and honor it becomes a school wide scandal. So at Guilford college American symbolism can only be used to demonstrate her sins. Is this Quakerism?
Anyone who pays a visit to the American Friends Service Committee website will get an answer to that question. Quakerism at Guilford falls directly within the AFSC stripe of mainly criticizing, and often slandering, the United States as racist, bigoted, imperialistic, sexist, homophobic, and greedy. My experience at Guilford likewise recognizes this reoccurring theme from the lectern. So for anyone who is confused as to why the school gleefully allows American symbolism in a negative light but shrieks in outrage if anyone dare do the opposite, know that the Quaker driven school policy is just as politically driven as the student/s who displayed our colors.
Adrienne • Sep 29, 2014 at 10:49 pm
The flag thing got to be a real issue after someone displayed a Confederate flag a couple of years back. Also, I’m just gonna put this out there: it sounds like this had very little to do with honoring the events of 9/11 and a whole lot to do with some weird power struggle against the administration about how to make a political statement.