In fall 2018, the flags of different nations, as well as the LGBTQ flag, that hung in Marano Campus Center at Oswego State were taken down to be cleaned and repaired. After a year, the flags are still not up.

After the flags were initially taken down, a resolution was proposed by the Student Association for six additional flags to be added. Theses flags were the Philadelphia Pride flag, Transgender Pride flag, Black Lives Matter flag, Pan-African flag, Palestinian flag and the Iroquois Native American Tribal flag.

This proposal drew controversy as different student groups criticized the various proposed flags. There were two SA meetings held in which the resolution was discussed and debated. Students criticized the flags as being political and making certain communities feel unwelcome. The hanging of the Palestinian flag for example was criticized by members of the Jewish community and Young Americans for Freedom. Others defended the flags as being a sign of inclusion and diversity.

The resolution was voted on and passed 11-1-2 in the second SA meeting on the matter. The resolution was then sent to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. This took place on Feb. 27, 2018. That was over a year ago and the flags have still not been put up.

“I feel like if the resolution has passed and they’ve agreed to one thing, they should at least speak about it,” Nekhi Dickens, a studio art major at Oswego State said. “They’re not legally obligated to, but I feel like they have the obligation for the students to at least give something. Like say ‘what’s happening,’ or ‘what’s going on, why hasn’t it been up yet?’”

For Dickens, if it has been a year and the flags are still not up, students should at least hear something from the SA or the Office of Diversity and Inclusion rather than being left in the dark on the matter.

She then added “this school wants to be more inclusive of everybody and Marano is the center of the entire school and people come in and out daily. So having the flags up … would show they’re trying to open [up] to everybody.”

Dickens not only feels that students should be kept informed on the matter, but she also agrees with the resolution, as she feels it is important to her schools inclusivity.

“I mean, personally it’s not really affecting me,” Taylor Murphy, a sophomore studying computer science at Oswego State, said when speaking on his opinion of the flags.

“Either say that they’re not going to do it or that they are. From what it sounds like they say they’re going to do it and then don’t do it.”

Even though Taylor is not enthusiastic about the change, he feels that it should be said openly whether or not the flags are going up. He also says that it seems as if the flags are not going to be put up.

Despite their different levels of care about the issue, both students agree that students generally should be more informed by the administration.               

The Oswegonian tried to contact the chief officer of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Rodman King, but he declined to comment at the time of publication.

 File Photo from 2018