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by Daniel Nussbaum 6 Mar 2015 Irvine, CA

The undergraduate governing body at the University of California, Irvine, voted this week to remove the American flag and all other flags from its lobby, after arguing in part that flags are “symbols of patriotism or weapons of nationalism.”

According to Campus Reform, R50-70, authored by Social Ecology Representative Matthew Guevara, was passed by the Associated Students of University of California Irvine (ASUCI) by a vote of 6-4, with two abstentions. The language of the bill claims that flags “construct cultural mythologies and narratives that in turn charge nationalistic sentiments,” and further charges that “flags construct paradigms of conformity and sets homogenized standards for others to obtain which in this country typically are idolized as freedom, equality, and democracy.”

The bill’s long case against the hanging of American flags includes the accusation that it “has been flown in instances of colonialism and imperialism,” and that “symbolism has negative and positive aspects that are interpreted differently by individuals.

“[F]reedom of speech, in a space that claims to be as inclusive as possible can be interpreted as hate speech,” the bill continues.

The language of the legislation concludes with with three resolutions: “Let it be resolved that ASUCI make every effort to make the Associated Students main lobby space as inclusive as possible.” “Let it further be resolved that no flag, of any nation, may be hanged on the walls of the Associate Student main lobby space.” “Let it be further be resolved that if a decorative item is in the Associate student lobby space and issues arise, the solution will be to remove the item if there is considerable request to do so.”

On Thursday, ASUCI President Reza Zomorrodian spoke out against the legislation in a post to the organization’s Facebook page.

“I stand firmly against this piece of legislation, though I understand the authors intent, I disagree with the solution Council has come to,” Zomorrodian wrote. “As Chair of the Executive Cabinet we will be having a conversation about this piece of legislation and deciding what course of action the cabinet will take collectively.”

Donald Bren School of Law, Irvine is a law school at the University of California, Irvine.

Note: Erwin Chemerinskyis the dean for the Donald Bren School of Law, Irvine, and a director at the American Constitution Society.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the American Constitution Society.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Richard C. Blum is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), married to Senator Dianne Feinstein, and a regent at the University of California.     

Michael V. Drakewas the VP for health affairs for the University of California, and is the chancellor for the University of California, Irvine.

Donald Bren School of Law, Irvine is a law school at the University of California, Irvine.

Donald L. Bren is the donor for the Donald Bren School of Law, Irvine, and the founder & chairman for the Donald Bren Foundation.

Pete Wilson is a director at the Donald Bren Foundation, and was the California state government governor.

Jerry Brown is the California state government governor, Kathleen L. Brown’s brother, and Pat Brown’sson.

Pat Brown was Jerry Brown & Kathleen L. Brown’s father, and the California state government governor.

Kathleen L. Brownwas the California state governmenttreasurer, is Jerry Brown’s sister, Pat Brown’s daughter, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

14 Sep 2011

by News Editor

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Faith Elizabeth Gay was an attorney at Sidley Austin LLP, and is a board of adviser’s member for the American Constitution Society.

Erwin Chemerinskyis a director at the American Constitution Society, and the dean for the Donald Bren School of Law, Irvine.

Donald Bren School of Law, Irvine is a law school at the University of California, Irvine.