Over the past year, the athletic department has pushed the phrase, “This is Our State.” I certainly approve of this slogan, especially with our recent successes over our rival and Dan Mullen’s vow to recruit the state of Mississippi. 
I also believe out of the state of Mississippi’s universities and colleges, Mississippi State University best represents the population of Mississippi, hence our former and recently revived nickname of “The People’s University.”  In light of this, where is “Our State” represented around campus? Pieces of Mississippi can been seen in the cotton fields of North Farm, the magnolias in front of Swalm Hall and the dogwoods near Mitchell Memorial Library. 
One major symbol of our state is lacking from the main campus: the state flag. No, not the Mississippi State University flag, but the state flag of Mississippi. The state flag is proudly displayed in front of the College of Veterinary Medicine, but not on Mississippi State’s iconic Drill Field. Old pictures of the Drill Field contain both the American flag and the state flag. There may be logical reasons why the state flag is not currently flown, such as the renovation of the flag post in 2004 or the past controversy surrounding the state flag. Mississippi State University policy 91.351 titled “Display of Flag,” discusses the “regulations and guidelines governing the display of the official university flags of the United States of America and the State of Mississippi which are flown over the Drill Field.”  If Mississippi State University and Dr. Keenum want to truly declare “This is Our State,” let us proudly display on the Drill Field the state’s largest symbol: the state flag of Mississippi.