John Alex Nunnery

Editor

On Feb. 5 the Mississippi University for Women raised the new state flag on campus.

The W was one of the state universities to take down the original state flag, which featured the canton of the Confederate battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. It stopped flying on campus in 2016.

The new design for the state flag entitled: “The New Magnolia” was voted in this past November with the citizens of Mississippi voting 73% in favor of the new design. On Jan. 11 of 2021, the flag was officially adopted as the state flag. President Nora Miller spoke candidly about her excitement.

“I think it was a step forward,” said Miller. “As the bills were first introduced, we met with the Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn and pledged our support to a new state flag.”

In celebration with the raising of the new flag, The W posted a video of the ceremony on Feb. 8 to share with the student body. There was also a livestreamed follow-up panel held through Zoom on Feb. 11 to discuss the changes to the flag and what it means for the future of the state.

“We unfolded the flag and raised it. Different people got a chance to help raise it,” said Miller. “I am very excited and proud of the new flag.”

In the virtual ceremony many different people spoke about the importance of the flag, the meaning for the state of Mississippi and the step toward equality that this flag represents. Poet C.T. Salazar recited a poem about his feelings on the new flag. As the flag itself was being raised, there was also a new song playing that was composed in honor of the event by Dr. Brandon Robinson, director of bands at The W. The song was entitled “Fanfare For a New Magnolia.”

“The previous state flag has always been a symbol of oppresion and great injustice so I think the new flag is beautiful and a better representation of Mississippi as the hospitality state as a whole,” said Christopher Marshall, a junior psychology major. “I think the new Mississippi flag is a great step forward.”

The new flag features a magnolia in the center of a dark blue stripe bordered by a gold stripe and a red stripe. A golden five-pointed star at the top represents Native Americans who originally lived in the state.

With a new flag flying over the state, many hope that this is a new beginning for Mississippi