Parliament Acts to Oppose Hatred on Campus
By: Aaron Buckley, Anchor Staff
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: News
Student Parliament convened last Wednesday to address, among a number of bylaw changes, the Rainbow Alliance's troubles with vandalized banners and flag poles.
April is Queer Month at Rhode Island College, and to celebrate, Rainbow is running a gauntlet of events from April 3rd to the 30th. Readers may recall learning about the vandalism of Rainbow's advertising banners throughout the last few weeks in the Donovan. It took four consecutive attacks until the banners found the attention of the school administration and Student Community Government.
At Parliament's weekly meeting, the body vowed to oppose the blatant discrimination by select members of the college community against Rainbow and by proxy all of its member organizations. Scott Kane (Dean of Students) and Gary Penfield (Vice President of Academic Affairs) both pledged the support of the college administration.
Parliament also mulled over the issue of flag poles. Back in March, Rainbow had requested permission from the college to have a rainbow flag hung from one of the flag poles in our quad, in front of the Murray Center. The administration denied the request, citing an 'administrative decision'. When the verdict was appealed, a college official again denied access to the flag pole.
At a meeting, Rainbow was told that the flag was a symbol of racial diversity, not of the queer community. When challenged, the "cost of paying labor" to raise and lower the flag was raised. Challenged again, the administration complained that if the Rainbow Alliance were allowed to fly a flag, every student group would request the same right.
Parliament deliberated over these issues and is considering the purchase and placement of several flag poles behind the Student Union, to be used by SCG and the other student organizations to display flags to advertise events and important holidays and celebrations.
If RIC already has flag poles in the quad, our public space as students, then why does the responsibility fall on SCG to purchase additional poles? A review of the United States Flag Code shows that, as long as a student organization's flag does not fly on level with, or above the US flag, the college would be breaking no guidelines.
April is Queer Month at Rhode Island College, and to celebrate, Rainbow is running a gauntlet of events from April 3rd to the 30th. Readers may recall learning about the vandalism of Rainbow's advertising banners throughout the last few weeks in the Donovan. It took four consecutive attacks until the banners found the attention of the school administration and Student Community Government.
At Parliament's weekly meeting, the body vowed to oppose the blatant discrimination by select members of the college community against Rainbow and by proxy all of its member organizations. Scott Kane (Dean of Students) and Gary Penfield (Vice President of Academic Affairs) both pledged the support of the college administration.
Parliament also mulled over the issue of flag poles. Back in March, Rainbow had requested permission from the college to have a rainbow flag hung from one of the flag poles in our quad, in front of the Murray Center. The administration denied the request, citing an 'administrative decision'. When the verdict was appealed, a college official again denied access to the flag pole.
At a meeting, Rainbow was told that the flag was a symbol of racial diversity, not of the queer community. When challenged, the "cost of paying labor" to raise and lower the flag was raised. Challenged again, the administration complained that if the Rainbow Alliance were allowed to fly a flag, every student group would request the same right.
Parliament deliberated over these issues and is considering the purchase and placement of several flag poles behind the Student Union, to be used by SCG and the other student organizations to display flags to advertise events and important holidays and celebrations.
If RIC already has flag poles in the quad, our public space as students, then why does the responsibility fall on SCG to purchase additional poles? A review of the United States Flag Code shows that, as long as a student organization's flag does not fly on level with, or above the US flag, the college would be breaking no guidelines.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
DH
posted 4/23/08 @ 9:58 AM EST
Your information on the US Flag Code is not accurate. It may not fly higher than the US flag, but may fly at the same height. It does not need to fly under the state flag; rather its prominence is lower than the state flag. (Continued…)
RJP3
posted 4/23/08 @ 4:51 PM EST
Civil Equality for all adults without exceptions for sexual minorities - or in other words the destruction of the Straight Supremist paradigm is the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT of the decade. (Continued…)
Trillian
Trillian
posted 5/01/08 @ 1:04 PM EST
" ... Rainbow is running a gauntlet of events ... " does not mean what you probably meant to say, Mr. Buckley. It's a simple matter of research. Try this link: http://www. (Continued…)
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