Starspangled banners will wave again at the University of California, Irvine, after student government leaders bid to ban the American flag from the campus lobby.
Members of the UC Irvine affiliate student executive cabinet met at an emergency session on Saturday to reverse the flag ban.
“Our campus is patriotic and proud,” Leza Zomorodian, president of the Student Government, told me. “We did something for campus.”
Zomorodian said he was furious that a small number of student lawmakers pushed the ban.
“Our campus is on the flag,” he said.
On March 3rd, student legislator Matthew Guevara wrote a bill that would remove the American flag along with all other flags from the lobby of the campus building that houses the office. To read my original column, click here.
Guevara said he wanted the university to be a more “culturally inclusive” place by banning old glory.
“The design of a culturally inclusive space aims to remove barriers that create excessive effort and separation by planning and designing spaces that allow everyone to participate in equal and secretly,” read the resolution.
The Student Government’s decision sparked a fire in public outrage from alumni, current students and university administrators.
“This false decision was not endorsed or endorsed in any way by campus leadership, the University of California or the broader student body,” read the statement posted online by the university. “The views of a small number of students passing the resolution do not represent the views of nearly 30,000 students on this campus and do not affect the university’s policies and practices.”
They also tweeted photos showing the stars and stripes were still posted to taxpayer-funded universities.
As for the Student Government Association flag, Zomorodian said it will be rebuilt on Monday.
Guevara and his cohort band could not be reached for comment. They have not spoken publicly, but Zomorodian said he could not find them. But when he does, he plans to listen to them, he said.
Zomorodian said he was particularly offended by their ban on flags because he is a first-generation American.
“That’s why the flag is special to me,” he said. “I was born here. My parents came here as immigrants.”
It’s proud that he is an American and stands up for the flag.
“This country has been great for our family,” he said.
The university administration should also be praised for its swift condemnation of the flag ban. It’s refreshing to see educators still loving the land of freedom, still a brave home.
Without anything else, this episode shows that the University of California Irvine University has hundreds, if not hundreds, of young men and women who love our country.
I was particularly pleased that the university’s ROTC members volunteered to guard over the old glory.
God’s Blessing America, Friends.
Todd Starnes is the host of “Fox News & Commentary” that we’ve heard on hundreds of radio stations. Sign up for his American dispatch newsletter, join his Facebook page and follow him on Twitter. His latest book is Godless America.
