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A point of clarification is needed here.

President Hitt's letter was written as a response to several questions put to him by student leaders. I will post their letter to him below and ask you to consider whether President Hitt has answered these questions to your satisfaction.

Greetings, President Hitt:

As student leaders on campus, we share concerns with other students, faculty, and community members about the placement of flags in every classroom. This act will affect the entire student body, as well as the academic environment. The university administration's rush to publicly support the posting of a flag in every classroom -- in the face of student opposition with no public discourse or discussion -- is alarming and dangerous to the democracy of this campus. Many concerns of the consequences of this action have yet to be addressed.

Students on campus are interested in preserving democracy on campus, expanding and honoring our constitutional right to free speech, and upholding just and fair rules and procedures and their enforcement. We want to foster an open line of communication between students and administration so that together we may work towards these common goals.

Therefore, in the spirit of justice and democracy, we submit to you the following questions and concerns.

1. Since flags in the classroom will affect the faculty as well as students, why wasn't the faculty senate consulted prior to your decision to publicly support ROCK's flag proposal?
2. Will faculty be punished for removing the flag, if they so choose, while they are using the classroom?
3. What are the consequences for anyone caught removing or damaging the flag?
4. Are you willing to weaken democratic principles on campus? If not, how do you justify your decision to act against the decision of the UCF Student Senate by favoring the ROCK proposal?
5. Students on campus who have voiced opposition to permanent flags in the classroom can provide documented reports of harassment from ROCK members and supporters. What will the university do to defend the free speech of those who oppose the placement of permanent flags in the classroom, and those who speak out on other controversial issues?
6. Are you against open and critical dialogue and academic debate about American values in the classroom? If not, how do you justify the presence of officially-sanctioned flags that may undermine such dialogue? How will you prevent the recurrence of intimidation tactics and harassment that may
also undermine dialogue?
7. Are you willing to abandon the goals of internationalization and diversity at UCF in order to have these flags? If not, why are you willing to accept flags from Shannon Burke, a talk-show host whose racism and homophobia are well-documented?
8. What would be the negative consequences of having flags placed in prominent areas of campus rather than in each classroom?
9. If you support free speech, why did your administration rule against the 2003-2004 Golden Rule Review Committee's decision to open the campus as a
free speech area?
10. If the flag is a symbol of free speech, should we not install them in the actual Free Speech areas on campus, which are otherwise unmarked, rather
than the classroom, in which freedom of speech does not apply?

We thank you in advance for your time and honest deliberation and answer of these questions. We request a reply at your earliest convenience so
that together we may move toward fair and just resolution of this issue as quickly as possible.

Respectfully submitted,

[various student leaders]

Notice that they've already planned vandalism, and are hoping to get the university President to say that punishment will be light (because vandalism is "free speech" in the Left's mind), or will be harsh (reinforcing their belief that the American flag is, in and of itself, fascist).

Lovely.

Is it to much to ask to have the flag of the USA displayed in a STATE university where undoubtedly students have secured GOVERMENT loans or received GOVERMENT grants in order to attend?

My whole point was that the students portrayed displaying the flag as an acknowledgedment/hatred of G.W.B. and the war efforts. These flags were eventually GIVEN to them (probably out of spite) by conserative thinking groups of people. If they refuse to display them then the public has a right to disregard them and everything the college stands for. I already think I know the mindset of liberal college students, but isn't it fun to confront them?

As a student at UCF following this whole flag controversy mess with the hippies protesting against the American flag, here's my $.02 to the I'm assuming the "Progressive Council letter" (since you didn't list the "vaious student leaders") to the administration:

1. Since flags in the classroom will affect the faculty as well as students, why wasn't the faculty senate consulted prior to your decision to publicly support ROCK's flag proposal?

The classrooms are there because of the students not the professors. The professors salaries are paid for by American tax dollars and American students tuition (and some international students (3%) tuition but since we tax payers also pay for most of THEIR tuition also to come over here, it's still pretty much American money going into that university...80% of the research dollars come from DEPT. of DEFENSE contracts)... so how is the country you live in that pays your bills so offensive again?

2. Will faculty be punished for removing the flag, if they so choose, while they are using the classroom?

It's called vandalism of university property. The teachers are there to teach not INDOCTRINATE. While you might be offended by America, you better bet MOST STUDENTS sitting in your classroom would be severely OFFENDED by you taking the American flag as that is a slap in the face to every American.

3. What are the consequences for anyone caught removing or damaging the flag?

Once again, that's vandalism and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Professor, I doubt you'll get your tenure for vandalizing your university's property.

4. Are you willing to weaken democratic principles on campus? If not, how do you justify your decision to act against the decision of the UCF Student Senate by favoring the ROCK proposal?

UCF Senate NEVER voted against the American flags, they voted against FUNDING them. Like any other student group, ROCK went elsewhere for funding when they couldn't get the funding from SGA. ROCK went to the administration for permission then went to SGA as a method for funding. While yes, several senators were against the flags all together, but the vote was only for funding, not permission (SGA does not have that power). I wouldn't be surprised if NORML in the Progressive Council bargained a bag of weed for each senator to vote against the flag funding. It's funny how NORML gets an awful lot of funding from SGA...

5. Students on campus who have voiced opposition to permanent flags in the classroom can provide documented reports of harassment from ROCK members and supporters. What will the university do to defend the free speech of those who oppose the placement of permanent flags in the classroom, and those who speak out on other controversial issues?

I'd like to see these "documented" reports. I'm sure the people from ROCK can provide even more "documented" reports from these anti-flag people.

6. Are you against open and critical dialogue and academic debate about American values in the classroom? If not, how do you justify the presence of officially-sanctioned flags that may undermine such dialogue? How will you prevent the recurrence of intimidation tactics and harassment that may
also undermine dialogue?

I think just because someone tells you they object to your anti-flag stance of the flag of their own country, I hardly call that "intimidation," that's called FREE SPEECH. For someone who pretends to like free speech so much, you certainly like to stifle others' free speech.

7. Are you willing to abandon the goals of internationalization and diversity at UCF in order to have these flags? If not, why are you willing to accept flags from Shannon Burke, a talk-show host whose racism and homophobia are well-documented?

The only "well-documented" info you have about Shannon Burke is a anti-Shnnon website with a webmaster who thinks suicide bombers walking into a cafe killing little 2-year olds are "heroes." Look at the cover of Islamic Society of Central Florida's newsletter this month, Shannon Burke is on the cover being praised for all his charitable work with the Muslim community. Tune into Shannon's show for once.

8. What would be the negative consequences of having flags placed in prominent areas of campus rather than in each classroom?

Whether it's in classrooms or outside, it's our country's flag, there's nothing wrong with our American flag.

I saw the news Friday, the first flag went up! I think that's awesome that ROCK got them in. I can't wait to go to class now. I hope my pro-flag stance hasn't "intimidated" you, I'm just merely practicing a little thing called free speech. Your comments about ROCK make me want to join the club even more. How do I contact them?

9. If you support free speech, why did your administration rule against the 2003-2004 Golden Rule Review Committee's decision to open the campus as a free speech area?
10. If the flag is a symbol of free speech, should we not install them in the actual Free Speech areas on campus, which are otherwise unmarked, rather than the classroom, in which freedom of speech does not apply?

Good questions.