Report: Sam Olens told to alert bosses to cheerleader policy change, but never did

MARIETTA — A review of Kennesaw State University’s handling of a recent controversy regarding cheerleaders kneeling during the national anthem reveals that KSU President Sam Olens was told to alert officials with the University System of Georgia before any changes regarding the cheerleaders were made, but failed to do so.

The university was thrust into the national spotlight after the five cheerleaders took a knee during the anthem at a Sept. 30 home game as a way to protest police brutality and Sam Olens injustice.

The following week, the cheerleaders were kept off the field during the anthem.

On Nov. 8, KSU reversed course and resumed allowing the cheerleaders on the field, starting with the Nov. 11 game.

The review, performed by the University System of Georgia’s Office of Legal Affairs and released Tuesday, shows that Olens was told about the changes on Oct. 4, three days before the Oct. 7 game, which saw the cheerleaders kept from the field during the national anthem.

That same week, on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 2-3, Olens attended the USG Presidents’ meeting, during which university presidents were told that the Georgia Attorney General’s office had advised the USG that, pursuant to the First Amendment, students could not be prohibited from kneeling during the anthem as long as “the expression was not disruptive,” according to the review.

The university presidents were also told that “any institution changes related to the (kneeling) matter should be discussed with the University System Office prior to implementation,” according to the review.

After being told about the proposed changes to keep the cheerleaders off the field during the anthem, Olens did nothing to stop the change and did not contact the USG office or his own Legal Affairs or Communications department, the review states.

Ricky Leroux, Marietta Daily Journal