Kennesaw State President Reverses Stance On Cheerleaders, Anthem

KENNESAW, GA — The president of Kennesaw State University announced Wednesday that he's reversing a controversial policy involving cheerleaders and the national anthem. The university had barred its cheerleading squad from entering the field before the playing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" at football games after five African-American cheerleaders took a knee as the song was performed before a Sept. 30 game, according to media reports.

The move drew national attention and criticism, as some commentators said Kennesaw State violated the cheerleaders' free speech rights under the First Amendment.

Kneeling or not for the national anthem has become a divisive issue across the country. It erupted after several National Football League players this season, following the example of exiled quarterback Colin Kaepernick, chose to perform the silent protest to raise awareness of social injustice.

Via Twitter, President Donald Trump has pressured the NFL and its team owners to punish players who choose to silently protest by kneeling during the singing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" before games.

SEE MORE: 'I Kneel For Unity In A Country That Needs It': Kennesaw State Cheerleader

In a letter to students, faculty and staff Wednesday, Kennesaw State President Samuel Olens said that at the university's next home game on Saturday, the cheerleaders will be allowed to enter the field before the singing of the national anthem.

"While I believe there are more effective ways to initiate an exchange of ideas on issues of national concern, the right to exercise one's freedom of speech under the First Amendment must be protected," he wrote. (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

When they protested earlier this season, the KSU cheerleaders drew support but also criticism. One critic is Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren, who said he was offended when he saw the five cheerleaders kneeling during the anthem before a recent home football game.

State Sen. Earl Ehrhart, a Republican, also criticized the cheerleaders. "A University student cannot demand a taxpayer-supported platform, like a football field, for their political speech," he wrote to Atlanta TV station WXIA (11 Alive). "Leave the politics to the public square payed for and shared by all…"

The Georgia Board of Regents, which oversees KSU, is conducting a review of how the university responded to the cheerleaders’ protest, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday.

In his letter, Olens said he will stand during the playing of the national anthem at Saturday's game "to honor the women and men who have served in our nation's armed forces.

"I do not believe that this debate has to be a choice between honoring our veterans and protecting the freedom of speech," he added. "We must be able to do both."

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