- Apr 14, 2001
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Flag Flap Angers University Students in Florida
MIAMI ? Old Glory with its stars and stripes is an American symbol, but at one Florida university, flying the flag in class has become a college controversy.
"If we can't fly it in America, then where can we fly it?" asked Heather Smith, a senior at the University of Central Florida (search) in Orlando and a member of the conservative student group called Rebuilding on a Conservative Kornerstone (search), or ROCK.
"I wish I knew why they are so opposed to the American flag," Smith said of some of her classmates.
ROCK wants UCF's Student Government Association ? with its $10 million budget ? to pay for 200 U.S. flags to be put in campus classrooms.
But liberal student leaders are balking at the thought. They say international students, among others, might be intimidated by the sight of an American flag in a college classroom. And they see this flag flap as nothing more than political baby steps.
"Really, I think a couple of these kids are just young, right-wing politicians or wannabes who want to grow up to be the next Tom DeLay, Newt Gingrich or Karl Rove," said Campus Peace Action's Scott Lynch, referring to conservative politicians and advisers.
ROCK provided to Fox News e-mails from other student groups who stated, among other things, that the U.S. flag symbolizes violence and fascism.
On camera, those same groups had little to say.
"The Progressive Council doesn't have an official stance on the subject at this time," said Progressive Council officer Emily Ruff.
Progressive Council (search) describes its mission as one of educating and involving students in democratic ideals. It says it will know it has succeeded "when the average citizen of the United States is educated enough to stop fearing his or her government and begin eagerly taking part in it."
"A lot of students feel like anything American is a bad thing, and it is unfortunate because they are being taught all this indoctrination instead of actually being taught the subject matter," Smith said.
For its part, UCF says it supports the idea of flags in the classroom as well as the debate swirling around it.
"If there's no search for the truth, if you will, on the university campus, then we're not doing our jobs very well," said Bill Merck, vice president for administration and finance.
Some recent expenditures already approved by the Student Government Association at UCF include a wide array of items, including $7,000 to send students to a pro-marijuana conference in California.
Another $10,000 spent by the SGA went to buy high-definition plasma televisions. Some $140,000 was spent on tickets to nearby Disney World. In about one month, the student government will decide whether it will spend $3,140 dollars to buy the American flags for the campus classrooms.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,93859,00.html
MIAMI ? Old Glory with its stars and stripes is an American symbol, but at one Florida university, flying the flag in class has become a college controversy.
"If we can't fly it in America, then where can we fly it?" asked Heather Smith, a senior at the University of Central Florida (search) in Orlando and a member of the conservative student group called Rebuilding on a Conservative Kornerstone (search), or ROCK.
"I wish I knew why they are so opposed to the American flag," Smith said of some of her classmates.
ROCK wants UCF's Student Government Association ? with its $10 million budget ? to pay for 200 U.S. flags to be put in campus classrooms.
But liberal student leaders are balking at the thought. They say international students, among others, might be intimidated by the sight of an American flag in a college classroom. And they see this flag flap as nothing more than political baby steps.
"Really, I think a couple of these kids are just young, right-wing politicians or wannabes who want to grow up to be the next Tom DeLay, Newt Gingrich or Karl Rove," said Campus Peace Action's Scott Lynch, referring to conservative politicians and advisers.
ROCK provided to Fox News e-mails from other student groups who stated, among other things, that the U.S. flag symbolizes violence and fascism.
On camera, those same groups had little to say.
"The Progressive Council doesn't have an official stance on the subject at this time," said Progressive Council officer Emily Ruff.
Progressive Council (search) describes its mission as one of educating and involving students in democratic ideals. It says it will know it has succeeded "when the average citizen of the United States is educated enough to stop fearing his or her government and begin eagerly taking part in it."
"A lot of students feel like anything American is a bad thing, and it is unfortunate because they are being taught all this indoctrination instead of actually being taught the subject matter," Smith said.
For its part, UCF says it supports the idea of flags in the classroom as well as the debate swirling around it.
"If there's no search for the truth, if you will, on the university campus, then we're not doing our jobs very well," said Bill Merck, vice president for administration and finance.
Some recent expenditures already approved by the Student Government Association at UCF include a wide array of items, including $7,000 to send students to a pro-marijuana conference in California.
Another $10,000 spent by the SGA went to buy high-definition plasma televisions. Some $140,000 was spent on tickets to nearby Disney World. In about one month, the student government will decide whether it will spend $3,140 dollars to buy the American flags for the campus classrooms.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,93859,00.html
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