IMAGE: The 9/11: Never Forget Project put on by JMU’s YAF chapter has traditionally been held on the school’s Quad.
James Madison University is blocking its Young Americans for Freedom chapter from displaying its annual 9/11: Never Forget Project flag memorial in its usual prominent location on the quad in the center of campus, instead forcing the memorial to a different, more remote location.
For years, the JMU YAF chapter has displayed 2,977 American flags on the campus Quad on the anniversary of 9/11, symbolizing each innocent life lost in the terrorist attacks. This memorial has served as a beautiful reminder to the university’s students, faculty, staff, and visitors of the significance of that day and the importance of remembering those who were killed–including at least four members of the JMU community–and recognizing the radical Islamic ideology that motivated the attack.
The high visibility of this tradition becomes even more important as the college students of today, for the most part, were not even alive at the time of the tragic attacks.
Despite allowing the display to be highly visible for years, the university is now citing a new policy that restricts the use of the Quad to only university-sponsored events, pushing the YAF chapter’s display to a festival lawn, a far less visible spot that’s located across a busy interstate from the main part of campus that’s more than a 30-minute walk away.
The YAF chapter at JMU is questioning the university’s decision, especially given that the Quad has been used without issue for this project for so many years in the past.
Tristan Jackson, Chairman of JMU’s YAF chapter, expressed his confusion in an email exchange with university administrators. He pointed out that the display has been allowed for years, yet the chapter is suddenly being denied access to the space.
JMU administrators have been extremely vague in their explanations. Dr. Tim Miller, Vice President of Student Affairs, mentioned in an email that the Quad is reserved for “activities and official events sponsored by the university,” and exceptions are generally not made unless they pertain to federal holidays. However, the 9/11 memorial clearly holds significant national importance, making the university’s decision all the more ridiculous.
Years ago, administrators at Southern Methodist University made a similar move. After facing national backlash for its decision to sideline students who were dedicating their freetime to memorialize the 2,977 innocent victims, SMU changed course. There’s still time for James Madison’s administration to make the right decision.
Young America’s Foundation’s New Guard attempted to reach JMU administrators for comment, but did not hear back. This article will be updated accordingly.
