There were two things at work here.
1) The university saw a republican group and had to try to shut them down, no matter what the circumstances, no matter what they were doing... the conservative voice HAD to be squashed. ONLY liberal thinking is tolerated. The universities have worked very hard at this.
or
2) The university was afraid the American flag and the mere mention of 9/11 would offend someone. PC must prevail at all costs. The university must stick to the idea that any patriotism to America offends others.
Both would apply.
The governor of neighboring Iowa apparently had a bellyful of liberal crap and made sure a non-academic took the president’s job at U of Iowa.