Confederate Flag in Dorm Room

Colleges & Universities A-Z Washington & Lee University
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<p>Just some food for thought. I am a senior here. I know a very patriotic South Carolinian who used to have a confederate flag hanging in his room. He also shared that room with his black fraternity brother. His roommate didn’t seem to have an issue with it. They were good friends and I never saw any hints of racism from him. I personally think its tacky and should be avoided, since it can offend many people, but I don’t think it is generally associated with racism on this campus. </p>

<p>We do have some problems with race, but as was mentioned before it mostly results from self-segregating on both sides. The Greek system doesn’t help since many minorities and international students choose not to join (often for financial or cultural reasons). They usually instead get involved in the multicultural organizations and host their own events. So it seems like the groups are separated but technically anyone is invited to any social event. Even the non-Greeks can come to Greek parties and often do. People just have to make more effort to break out of their cookie cutter groups. But, even if people tend to flock together (which happens at most schools anyway), generally W&L students are friendly and will interact with you if you make the effort regardless of what race you may be.</p>

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<p>klio33,</p>

<p>Thank you for responding to my question. It is so helpful to hear from a current student at W&L in my quest to better understand the campus dynamics.</p>

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<p>

Well, your reaction (typical Yankee) is what a lot of them are looking for.</p>

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<p>I was originally from Boston (35 years) and moved to VA 25 years ago. I have a son at W&L.</p>

<p>What you have to realize is that the Civil War is part of Virginia’s heritage. Just like the Revolutionary War is to the north and Boston in particular. Battlefield state parks are everywhere and small towns depend on civil war tourism for their budgets. Confederate and Union flags fly side by side. Also, battle re-enactments are very popular and both whites and blacks participate. </p>

<p>That being said, it has been my observation that there is very little segregation in the Virginia. All colors and nationalities live in a homogeneous community setting and people are accepting. I can not say that about where I grew up where folks were segregated by color as well as country of origin. </p>

<p>Finally, my son was set on going to a school in the north. But after visiting several colleges, he decided to stay south of the Mason-Dixon because in his words “people were friendlier”. And I have to agree. I even enjoy talking to strangers on the street now (something that I would have never done when I first moved here). </p>

<p>So make what you want of this student’s demonstration of the Confederate flag. I doubt that he intended to be a racist symbol. More likely, a demonstration of pride in his southern American heritage.</p>

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<p>I am also a northerner transplanted in the south. Also, as many who camp out here already know, I am the parent of a student at W&L. I basically have two observations relevant to this thread:</p>

<p>First, kfnpemai is right on the money. The worst, most pervasive instances of racism I’ve ever encountered was while living in the north. The segregation and institutional forms of racism I observed there was incredibly entrenched. Having experienced it firsthand, I find it quite entertaining to hear northerners speak so condescendingly regarding racism in the south. Sure, the south historically engaged in the most egregious acts of racism this country has ever seen, no question about it. But if we are talking about real time, meaning the present, the south is much more progressive with race relations than most places in the north. </p>

<p>Northerners, however, firmly believe they are more enlightened, which ironically, makes the issues there all the more insidious and culturally embedded. Think about it. Beginning in 1980, which was the first time it happened in our country’s history, blacks began migrating south in far greater numbers than those heading north. I have also observed that there seem to be far more integrated neighborhoods in the south. In fact, I never lived in one until I relocated to Virginia about 10 years ago. It’s been a wonderfully refreshing change. In the north, it’s still rare in many places to see different races of people actully living next door to one another in a non-transitioning neighborhood. Frankly, I’ll take seeing the occasional confederate flag in the back window of Bubba’s pick up truck any day over living in the miserably segregated north again. </p>

<p>Secondly, regarding W&L, there’s nothing to fear but fear itself. W&L offers a fine, welcoming community. Perfect? No, of course not. I haven’t come across any school that meets that definition. Also, I understand the initial reluctance given its historical associations. However, that’s all most of that stuff is - history. Associating W&L with what the old line south once was, is a akin to saying the Cleveland Browns are today, a force to be reckoned with on the basis they won a league championship in 1964. Everyone knows that’s false no matter how many times they drag Jim Brown back to town. It’s not 1964. Similarly, I think many have missed out on a great school due to the inability, perhaps unwillingness, to distinguish the past from the present. And the harshest W&L critics are always those who have never even set foot there. </p>

<p>Please, do yourself a favor and don’t let the “southern” sterotypes play on your imagination. Go see it for yourself before passing judgment. Talk to the people there. You will find that your worries about confederate flags and a racist, backwoods, old south mentality are unsupported by reality. Like I’ve said in other threads, maybe they have me completely hoodwinked, but I have encountered some of the nicest people I’ve ever met at W&L. I’m talking not only about the students, but their parents as well. </p>

<p>And oh, if it helps, I’m not white.</p>

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<p>williamsdad- lee, the freshman blogger, is half asian/ half caucasian! he is from North Carolina–hence why he has the flag.</p>

<p>I’m a current w&l student and I know that Lee isn’t the only w&l student with the confederate flag in his dorm room. At w&l, the confederate flag is certainly not percieved as a symbol of racism. Like beautyistruth said, it is kind of a “cool southern display of pride.” Anyone who is that offended by the sheer sight of the confederate flag, might want to reconsider w&l as a college choice, as they will likely be seeing the flag or references to the confederates frequently. People really love Robert E. Lee here. </p>

<p>W&L is an extremely welcoming community and the university is working extremely hard to increase diversity and acceptance. I am a minority from the north and I have yet to meet anyone who has made me feel discriminated against.</p>

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<p>You have to dig pretty hard to get to that photo in the site. My guess would be that someone found some irony in the picture with an Asian student stnading in front of the alternative NC flag, and a US Marine Corps flag. W&L is a very sophisticated place with people from all over the U.S. and around the world. </p>

<p>Lee and the Civil War are parts of the place, but more from the sense of community the Honor System he founded creates, not to mention the fact that he took the job in the first place. One of his first actions was to go to the north and recruit students to the (then) small struggling school. In general (no pun) there is no allegience to a battle long lost. That nonsense was done there in the '60’s for the most part.</p>

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<p>I am in general agreement with most of what FLAVADAD and Pizzagirl have to say. It is 1964 and life in Virginia has changed much since then. People are either ignorant or kidding themselves, however, if they think that the display of the Confederate battle emblem is simply a sign of pride in southern heritage. The flag was flown in a war for the preservation of slavery and has subsequently been displayed in defiance of efforts to advance to lives of those who suffered from slavery. It is reasonable to expect an African American to take offense to the display of the battle emblem and sometimes it is necessary to respect the concerns of those offended even if we disagree with their reasoning or do not empathize with their concerns. To the OP’s concern, I wouldn’t keep my daughter from attending W&L if the battle emblem were only in Lee’s dorm room but if its display is widespread or institutionally condoned [if it stays on the website, I would consider this to be the case], I would have to have second thoughts. It’s more important for Pizzagirl to feel welcome than it is to hang onto a piece of cloth that makes you feel proud. You can honor Robert E. Lee and be proud without it.</p>

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<p>Our family visited W&L yesterday and the only place we spotted the Confederate Flag was on a very unique piece of sculpture representing the many facets of Robert E Lee. While we were there we happened to also meet the artist who is a professor originally from Minnesota. No large banners that we could see claiming the South will rise again…anywhere. Beautiful campus, wonderful people, happy students. We met people from all over the country.</p>

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<p>rom-Just out of curiosity, to which sculpture are you referring? Was it the one in Lee Chapel? I am an alum and I honestly can’t remember a piece of art that fits your description. I am thrilled to finally see someone that despite some initial concerns actually visited campus and enjoyed their FIRSTHAND experience. Something I also did.</p>

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<p>We were in Wilson Hall the new Performing Arts Center. It was a fun sculpture, I think kinda new. We all loved W&L; our S will definitely be applying next year. I too would hate any kind of false impression of a school to prevent our S or any student from visiting or applying.</p>

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<p>“Well, your reaction (typical Yankee) is what a lot of them are looking for.”</p>

<p>True. I just hope that none of these flag-displaying individuals, who deliberately try to offend others for their own amusement, claim to be gentlemen. General Lee would be disgusted.</p>

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<p>I’ve always gotten a laugh out of the “Northern Aggression” thing, Lincoln held off to have the confederates fire the first shot of the war at Fort Sumter so that it would show the south’s aggression. I guess some southerners just can’t get over the fact they lost. I certainly am surprised at all the political correctness people are worried about and yet hanging a flag that opposed American ideals is not an issue…god I love this country…</p>