AU Queers and Allies got politely turned down this week. The student group asked if the university would be willing to hang the gay pride flag from flagpoles across campus in honor of National Coming Out Week, which began this past Sunday. The Office of Campus Life told the group this was not possible, because it would violate university policy, but the office also proposed several alternative ways for Queers and Allies to show their pride.
All reports indicate that Campus Life was apologetic and supportive, and that Queers and Allies was respectful and understanding. The student group has been granted permission to hang a pride flag in a public place yet to be determined, visible from the main quad.
This is, in a sense, a non-controversy. Everyone involved basically went home happy. Which is why both AU Queers and Allies and the Office of Campus Life have our admiration this week. Queers and Allies proved that student advocacy organizations can accept limits on expression with dignity. Campus Life demonstrated how to enforce university policy in a compassionate and flexible fashion.
Obviously, hoisting the gay pride flag this week is appropriate. That Queers and Allies inquired about this is understandable. Still, AU has a sound policy on this issue. On such a politically active college campus, flying the flag of one specific group — even during a special week — presents problems.
Think about it. Imagine if the university put up rainbow flags all over campus. Other advocacy groups would rightly demand that their flags get equal time atop AU’s flagpoles. Women’s Initiative would want a turn. The Black Student Alliance would want in on the action. Political groups would make bids. Fraternities and sororities might inquire. Quite frankly, The Eagle might try, too. How better to affirm AU’s commitment to a free press than by permitting The Eagle’s masthead to whip around in the wind above Main Quad?
Obviously, this is ridiculous. But the point is, our university flagpoles should be reserved for flags that represent us all — queers, allies, women, student journalists, etc. The American flag is obviously one such symbol. So the university and the Office of Campus Life made the right call. But more impressively, they did it in a completely compassionate way that alienated no one.
This newspaper editorializes so often about controversy and conflict. Once and a while, it is refreshing to comment on people getting along.
