Cutting tax breaks for state universities

Mississippi universities that refuse to fly the confederate themed state flag could lose proposed tax breaks, the latest twist in a long battle over a symbol critics see as racist.
News 25’s Kendra Turley caught up with students at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Long Beach campus to see how they feel about the amendment.
Some see it as a symbol of racism and others see it as a display of heritage. USM student Maureen McSpadden said, “It’s the heritage of Mississippi from way back in the 1800s. They’ve got the flag and just because one person don’t like it, move out.”
Tension over the design of the Mississippi state flag continues now that lawmakers threaten to cut funding for universities. USM junior Brooke Edmonds said, “I have financial aid so I feel like it could definitely affect me. It’s very scary to see what the future could bring us if that happens.”
The Mississippi House passed an amendment that would require Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi to fly the state flag to receive certain tax breaks. The amendment passed with a narrow 57-56 margin.
All eight of Mississippi’s public universities have stopped flying the state flag simply because it features the Confederate battle emblem. “Not everybody agrees with the flag or disagrees with the flag, you know? I feel like it’s not fair for the school to put that on the students and the universities shoulders,” said Edmonds.
Many students on USM’s Long Beach campus are still appalled by the universities decision to take down the flag. “The state flag represents the state, just like the American flag represents the United States of America. If you take one down you have to take them all down,” said McSpadden.
Republican Representative William Shirley of Quitman wrote the flag amendment, but said it has nothing to do with the current design. He says universities should fly the state symbol, whatever it is, if they take state money. USM senior Milton Britton said, “Taking away money, that’s pretty crazy. Over a flag that everyone knows is pretty controversial.”