*Office of the Vice Provost
for Student Affairs
*

	September 26, 2016


To:      UVM Community

From:    Annie Stevens, Vice Provost for Student Affairs

RE: *Black Lives Matter Flag*


The University of Vermont has a long-standing flag procedure that covers 
the use of the flagpole by the Davis Center designated for special 
events and activities. The procedure articulates the approval process. 
http://www.uvm.edu/policies/general_html/flag.pdf

The Davis Center, over many years, has flown flags to celebrate and 
support members of the University community. The individual flags must 
be sponsored by a University group or organization.  The Davis Center 
has worked with groups who seek to teach and support the principles of 
equal justice and community building: from the Rainbow flag to celebrate 
marriage equality and later to support our community following the 
targeted shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando; to the national 
flag of China to celebrate the arrival of the first students from China; 
to the new national flag to celebrate the forming of South Sudan as a 
new country; to the flag of Haiti following the natural disaster that 
destroyed much of their country.

In that spirit, the Student Government Association, (SGA) sponsored last 
week a Black Lives Matter flag to fly over the weekend to recognize the 
recent police shootings in Tulsa and Charlotte.  The student leadership 
of SGA wished to express its understanding and support of people in the 
Black community and others who are suffering due to recent shootings. 
Related to these issues, a student led campus gathering will be held 
this afternoon.

The University of Vermont, as an educational institution, vigorously 
supports freedom of inquiry and expression within the academic community 
and promotes a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for all members 
of our community.  With these twin goals in mind, the flag was displayed 
in accordance with University established procedures.  First Amendment 
freedoms protect speech and ideas, including controversial ideas, 
differing perspectives, and contentious viewpoints.

To accomplish our educational goals and mission, the University actively 
seeks an environment that appropriately reconciles free speech and 
academic freedom on the one hand and the maintenance of a welcoming, 
safe, and inclusive environment for all members of the University 
community on the other hand. By promoting and encouraging dialogue and 
conversations, the result can lead to better understanding and education 
about difficult issues.