Old Glory may find its way into UA classrooms
Political science senior Tyler Mott's quest began as a freshman when he came to the UA, went to class and noticed something was missing.
Red, white and blue.
Old Glory wasn't in the classrooms; it wasn't in the lecture halls. Sure, it was in front of Old Main and in the sports stadiums, but that wasn't enough for Mott.
It took him a while, but Mott has decided to follow in the footsteps of a group at the University of Central Florida that lobbied successfully to get flags in more than 200 of its classrooms.
"The flag represents what gives (students) the ability to speak freely," Mott said.
Mott wants to put the 2-by-3-foot free speech reminders in every UA classroom, excluding chemistry labs, where they would be considered flammable.
Facilities Management told Mott there are 438 classrooms where he could put flags, and he estimates the cost at more than $4,000. He doesn't want to get any money from the UA. Instead, he says he would seek private donations.
When Mott first got the idea of putting flags in every classroom, he asked around and found that some people didn't even notice the lack of flags.
UA spokeswoman Sharon Kha said she has been trying to find some flag policies, but couldn't find any in UA or state policy for colleges and universities.
"We don't have a specific policy on flags other than if they are displayed, they should be displayed with the proper regulations," Kha said.
Kha said a decision on whether to put up the flags would probably not be made by a vote from students or faculty. Individual building monitors would decide whether the flags could be placed in specific classrooms.
Not having a vote is a given, Mott said.
"It's not like people need to vote on whether flags should be in the classroom; they should already be in the classroom," he said. "I'm sure there is a population (that believes) the flag represents repression or whatnot. But the flag represents freedom and gives us the ability to share our ideas."
There was opposition to the effort at UCF, and there was some vandalism after the flag installation last fall, according to their campus newspaper. But Mott, a member of the College Republicans, said he doesn't expect much opposition from anyone.
"I know the public will be supportive of this. We have a very giving community that we live in," he said.
Open discussion is something Mott encourages and hopes there will be an open forum in the Wildcat. But any opposition, he said, would be "somewhat baseless.
"I know there will be some opposition to the idea, but the opposition would be unpatriotic and counterproductive," he said. "Even if we don't necessarily agree with current leaders or current military operations, it is important that we do support the people who have died defending our country."
When trying to talk to administration about his idea, Mott was told to e-mail President Peter Likins. Mott said Likins' e-mail reply stated that the university wouldn't help pay for his cause, and that they would need an "angel" to get the funds.
That angel may come when Mott finishes setting up his nonprofit organization, called "Operation Angel." The American Legion has already shown strong support of his effort, and Mott believes it will donate some of the necessary funds.
Al Tarcola, head of Facilities Management, said there wouldn't be much of a problem caring for the flags if they were instructed to do so.
"There wouldn't be much upkeep. You don't have to feed it or clothe it, so maintenance is very low," Mott said.
Mott said his effort is bipartisan, and after looking at some of his other reasons to install flags, it just may be.
"We already have some of the most boring classrooms in the country," Mott said. "(The flags) would at least add some color."