Because it's the right thing to do.
During his visit to SEC Media Days, Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze called for a change to the Mississippi state flag, which currently features the Confederate battle flag in a prominent manner. When asked, Freeze said that Mississippi needs to "move in a new direction and change the flag."
I, along with many other Ole Miss alumni and fans, am very proud of the University for coming out so strongly on this manner. I think the recent outrage of Ole Miss fans over Dan Mullen and Sid Salter's evasive answers to questions about the flag is a bit overplayed, but it's good to see Ole Miss making such strong and necessary statements.