US flag under fire at UC Irvine

Student government members attempted to ban the American flag from the University of California, Irvine, last week, only to face rebuke from their colleagues and observers.

The ban was part of a bill drafted by legislator Matthew Guevara, who said that eliminating all flags from the lobbies of student government buildings would create a "more inclusive" environment on campus. The measure was passed with a 6-4 vote on March 3, with two students abstaining from voting, before campus and nationwide backlash prompted a repeal.

According to Guevara's resolution, the U.S. flag carries positive and negative connotations "that are interpreted differently by individuals."

Student government President Reza Zomorrodian, a first generation American, said he was furious about the situation, and that the "campus stands with the flag," according to a report by Fox News.

The university also released a statement saying the school and the broader student body did not support or endorse the "misguided decision," to take down the flags. "The views of a handful of students passing a resolution do not represent the opinions of the nearly 30,000 students on this campus, and have no influence on the policies and practices of the university," said the statement.

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