Harvard University: Students requested to remove Nicki Minaj flag from suite window

On September 5, 2021, a Harvard undergraduate student tweeted a screenshot of an email from a college employee requesting that he and his suitemates remove a flag depicting a bikini-clad Nicki Minaj from their suite window because it might be considered offensive. On September 10, FIRE wrote to Harvard calling for the employee to rescind the request, explaining that the flag is protected speech and the request contravened Harvard’s commitment to free expression. Harvard did not respond to our letter, but FIRE identified what appeared to be the same flag hanging in a window of the residence hall later that month.