Separation

Yours truly has suggested that UC needs to create a greater separation between student government and the "official" university. Otherwise, the university is held accountable for student actions over which it has little control. Sometimes such actions could create legal liability for the university, such as the recent near-blocking at UCLA of a selection of a Jewish student for a student office. That story attracted national attention.* Had the blocking occurred, you would have likely seen a lawsuit. Sometimes, such actions just embarrass the university at a time of delicate budget negotiations when it needs external public support. The latest example:

American flag, others banned in UC Irvine student area 

In a push for what has been described as cultural inclusion, the student government at UC Irvine has voted to ban the display of all flags -- including the American flag -- in an area of the campus. A resolution adopted Thursday by the legislative council of the campus' Associated Students calls for removing all flags from the common lobby area of student government offices. 

Written by student Matthew Guevara of the School of Social Ecology, the resolution states: "The American flag has been flown in instances of colonialism and imperialism" and notes that flags "construct paradigms of conformity and sets homogenized standards." The resolution goes on to say that "freedom of speech, in a space that aims to be as inclusive as possible, can be interpreted as hate speech." The resolution passed on a 6-4 vote by the student legislative council, with two abstentions...

A book not circulating at UC-Irvine

The resolution "is not endorsed or supported in any way by the campus leadership," according to a statement on UCI's website written by Associated Students President Reza Zomorrodian. The measure is likely to be short-lived, however. 

The student government's five-person executive cabinet is expected to meet Saturday to vote on a motion to veto the resolution, the statement said...

Full story at http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-american-flag--ban-uc-irvine-20150306-story.html

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*http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2015/03/returning-stories_6.html

UPDATE: As indicated in the article above, the move has now been vetoed: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-uci-vote-to-ban-american-flag-others-misguided-20150307-story.html