Flag-color ribbons, national anthem “offensive” at Berkeley

So reported the Cal Patriot on the university’s plans for a September 11th observence:

“We thought that [red, white, and blue ribbons] may be just too political, too patriotic,” said Hazel Wong, chief organizer for the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC). “We didn’t want anything too centered on nationalism-anything that is ‘Go U.S.A.'”

Wong said the event organizers are “trying to steer away” from anything political, and that, she said, includes singing the National Anthem and displaying the red, white, and blue. She said they don’t want politics disrupting mourning and grieving.

Now Berkeley’s Chancellor responds to defend the University: “The central allegation of The California Patriot is that the University of California, Berkeley is unpatriotic in commemorating the events of September 11. This allegation is wrong.”

So is it no longer interdict at Berkeley to wear a red, white, and blue ribbon or to sing the National Anthem? That allegation is, well, so far unaddressed by the university, but the Patriot is optimistic. (via Instapundit)