American flag ban vetoed by student leaders at University of California at Irvine

Student leaders at the University of California-Irvine vetoed a resolution on Saturday that would have banned hanging flags of any nation, including America’s Stars and Stripes, in the lobby of student government offices, amid widespread criticism from students and alumni.

The Legislative Council of the Associated Students of the University of California, Irvine’s passed the resolution, “Flags and decoration adjustment for inclusivity,” in a 6-4 vote Tuesday with the stated intention of creating a “more inclusive” environment.

The resolution said “the American flag is commonly flown in government public service locations, military related entities, at homes, in foreign lands where the US government has a presence,” and its “symbolism has negative and positive aspects that are interpreted differently by individuals.”

Its passage drew widespread opposition from the campus community and beyond for being offensive and unpatriotic.

“As a military veteran, American citizen and taxpayer, I find this piece of ‘legislation’ highly offensive,” a commenter said on the ASUCI ‘s Facebook student page, in one of the more mildly worded complaints. “This is a public school, supported by taxpayers, (yes, I know, most of you pay tuition, as well, but that does not cover the entire cost), and it is appropriate to display the United States Flag on campus. Please reconsider your actions and rescind this resolution.”

Current students also registered their dissatisfaction with the resolution, saying the resolution does not represent the student body as a whole.

“As much as I hope that their decision gets vetoed and that the administration will take some accountability for allowing such a controversial issue to be voted on in the first place, I also hope that people will stop generalizing us and saying that they will refuse to hire UCI students or that the generous donations of our alumni will fall, or even worse that we are not proud Americans. The majority of us would be proud to stand out there and wave the flag ourselves if need be,” another commenter said.

The UCI administration issued a statement saying “this misguided decision was not endorsed or supported in any way by the campus leadership, the University of California, or the broader student body.”

Student-body President Reza Zomorrodian also publicly opposed the legislation, leading the Executive Cabinet of student government to convene on Saturday to veto the legislation.

“We fundamentally disagree with the actions taken by ASUCI Legislative Council and their passage of R50-70 as counter to the ideals that allow us to operate as an autonomous student government organization with the freedoms of speech and expression associated with it,” the executive cabinet said in a statement. “It is these very symbols that represent our constitutional rights that have allowed for our representative creation and our ability to openly debate all ranges of issues and pay tribute to how those liberties were attained.”

Displaying Old Glory: Flagpoles —

It's an American tradition to display the flag of the United States on Independence Day, festooning houses, picnics and parades in red, white and blue. But did you know our country has federal guidelines relating to the display of the flag? When it comes to flagpoles, the Flag Code says "when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness." Click through the gallery to see if you're displaying your flags correctly this July 4th.

Displaying Old Glory: Staffs —

When a flag is mounted on a staff outside a building or home, usually mounted at an angle from a window sill, balcony or the front entrance, the Flag Code says the flag should be "placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff."

Displaying Old Glory: Hanging —

When hanging a flag against a wall, in a window or suspended across an entrance, whether horizontally or vertically, the Flag Code says "the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left." However, the flag should never be used to cover a ceiling.

Displaying Old Glory: Bunting —

The Flag Code says the flag should never be "festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free." Bunting is the preferred method of general flag-related decoration. The Flag code suggests bunting that has blue on the top, white in the middle and red on the bottom.

Displaying Old Glory: Tables —

It is frowned upon to use an actual flag as a tablecloth. The Flag Code says, "The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying or delivering anything."

Displaying Old Glory: Food service —

Prints of the flag, however, are fair game in 4th of July decor. The Flag Code says, "The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing." So any replicas of the flag, like lapel pins, should be treated with respect.

Displaying Old Glory: Mini flags —

The Flag code does not address mini flags, specifically, but the dimensions are regulated: The length of any flag should be 1.9 times the width. However, the Flag Code does outline that "The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise."

Displaying Old Glory: Parades —

The Flag Code is specific when it comes to parades: "The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff," and "The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff should be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender."

The right way to decorate with the flag

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