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Disclaimer: As a Franklin College student and member of the cross country team, I am obviously biased. If that’s a problem, go read a differen…

Disclaimer: As a Franklin College student and member of the cross country team, I am obviously biased. If that’s a problem, go read a differen…

Johnson-Deitz windows sit empty facing Dame Mall. 

Johnson-Deitz windows sit empty facing Dame Mall. 

Not even a year ago at Franklin College, self-expression was seen through the windows of Johnson-Dietz, adorned with flags. 

Junior Max Johnson lived in Johnson-Dietz prior to the flag ban. Still living in Johnson-Dietz, he witnessed the change. 

“It upsets me. I remember coming in freshman year and seeing people expressing themselves through the flags,” Johnson said. “It also makes the college feel more like a place where you can express yourself.” 

This past summer, Franklin College updated the Resident Hall Health and Safety Regulations section of the Student Handbook. 

In the added “Decorations” subsection, it states, “window displays (signs, flags, posters, etc.) that face outwardly (on windows) are prohibited. Curtains, while permitted, are discouraged due to fire safety and to permit ample air circulation and prevent condensation around windows. Residents may be asked to remove curtains by college staff if it impedes on air-flow and circulation.” 

This does not make much sense to me. The college can have flags hanging throughout areas such as the annex balcony, but the students cannot. It is also confusing that when a flag is facing the outside of the window. It’s a problem, but when it’s facing the inside of the room, it’s okay.

Sophomore Olivia Alvey also lived in Johnson Dietz before the college banned flags hanging in the windows. She said she can see why the college may not like having certain things hanging where everyone can see. 

“The only reason I can see why the college bans flags in the windows is because they’re worried about what kinds of flags students may use. This includes slurs and political beliefs the college does not agree with,” Alvey said.

Some flags hanging in windows said, “Black Lives Matter,” “Let’s go Brandon” and “I Heart D.I.L.F.s,” for example.

It seems like most people think students can’t have flags in windows anymore because the college does not want students to put the wrong message out there. 

“We’ve had the same conversation about what you should be advertising from your room to the outside world. Expressing yourself with a flag in the window pointed inward towards your room: It’s your room. But pointing towards Dame Mall we’ve had everything from naked images to incendiary messaging,” President Kerry Prather said.

I believe we advertise ourselves every day. For example, we wear what we want, no matter what our clothing says. We might wear Nike or Adidas, and when we do so, we’re advertising that brand. What’s the difference between what I wear and what flag I decide to put in my window? 

“When the flag faces outwards on your window, you’re now using our collective space to advertise those expressions,” said Prather. 

I understand Prather’s point about expressing oneself in their respective space, as it is important to consider the feelings of others.  

At the end of the day, we all want Franklin College to be a place where you can go and feel comfortable. Perhaps not all the past flags have embodied this. 

So, how do we balance this by allowing students to express themselves? 

“They could verbalize on any corner of the campus in an appropriate venue, but it seems to be the least common approach because it has become such a passive-aggressive world,” Prather said.

Ultimately, we could limit what kind of flags are being posted to the public. For example, the school could only ban political or inappropriate flags. Then, students could put up flags for their favorite artists or sports teams. Flags don’t have to be inappropriate. They could be anything you are involved with on campus, like a Greek life poster or a theater poster. They are symbolic and reflect our identities. Flags are self-expression.

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