http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/15552510.htm

Posted on Tue, Sep. 19, 2006

Students banned from bringing flags except U.S. flag


Associated Press

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Officials at Harrison High School will meet with a diversity consultant this week to determine if they overreacted by forbidding students from bringing to school flags other than that of the United States.

Principal Doug Lesley imposed the ban after two students brought a Mexican flag and a Confederate flag to a pep rally earlier this month. Other national flags are still used in the classrooms.

"We're not trying to do away with the symbols of our nationalities," Lesley said. "We just felt like the flags were a hot button right now."

Lesley and two teachers plan to meet Thursday with a diversity consultant at Purdue University and report back to student council and the school's diversity club.

Lesley said he wants to know if staff members are overreacting or under-reacting to perceived tension between students.

Sophomore Gero Gaba said she does not believe Lesley is trying to stifle students' right to celebrate their heritage.

"You have the right to carry your heritage with you, but you are in the United States now and you're taking the rights of the States that come along with that," she said. "An American wouldn't want to go to another country and wave the American flag around."

Next month, about 200 students will participate in Challenge Day, a national program that focues on relationships, sensitivity and diversity.