Boston University officials responded to faculty and student concerns about the removal of outward-facing signage on campus, including pride flags, in a BU Today article published Tuesday. 

Officials denied allegations that the policy was only being enforced with politically sensitive signs. The University recognizes the significance of pride flags but must apply the policy universally, Gilliam and other administrators said in the article.

One of the three pride flags removed over spring break was in BU earth and environment professor Nathan Phillips’ office. 

Phillips called the removal “selective enforcement” of the signage policy, which administrators said was “content-neutral,” according to BU Today. Phillips said this assertion is incorrect, citing an Italian flag and Seattle Krakens flag still up in locations where pride flags had been removed.

According to BU Today, the University’s approach to signage removal starts with a conversation, rather than immediate removal, which is why some types of signage remain in place while others were taken down.

Phillips said the policy is flawed because a university should be facilitating freedom of expression, not inhibiting it. Phillips said he would prefer a content-neutral policy that allows for more signage across the political spectrum, rather than none.

“As frustrating and disappointing as it is, I have never felt more hopeful about the kind of awakening that’s happening on campus, where faculty and students and staff are saying ‘who’s making the rules here?’ and ‘what about our voices?’” Phillips said.

The Faculty Council Academic Freedom Committee at BU passed a resolution March 17 which reaffirmed a commitment to academic freedom and freedom of expression on campus. While the resolution was not a direct response to the pride flag removal, committee chair and BU Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies professor Lida Maxwell said she thought the removal of the pride flag at the WGS offices infringed on academic freedom.

“The pride flag is an obvious symbol of the mission of the field of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies … so to me, the flying of the pride flag is part of academic freedom,” Maxwell said.

Maxwell said the Faculty Council will respond specifically to the pride flag removal in the coming weeks, but as a consultative group, the council has no power to change policy.

Officials said the policy has been in place since 1982, but the University has been working to enforce it more consistently since last spring. 

Phillips said the way forward would be to create a committee of students, staff, faculty and administrators to revise the signage policy.

“We can get together,” they said. “We can have the difficult conversations. I’m committed to working with the administration, with every member of the university community to develop an actual durable and fair and inclusive speech policy.”