A resolution asking for increased representation in the flags outside of UPC's Von Kleinsmid Center failed to pass during Tuesday's USG meeting.
VKC currently displays 108 flags representing students from 130 different countries. Jinah Sinh, the Office Manager of the Strategic and Global Initiatives Office cites a shortage of flagpoles available on the building's exterior as an explanation for this discrepancy between countries represented in the student body and countries represented at VKC. Flags from countries with only one international student are only hung on rotation.
The resolution asked for efforts from the University to "improve the visible and explicit representation of the states and regions of the world which have been historically left unrepresented in this space." Suggestions included displaying flags not on rotation in the VKC library, and making a list of the flags and their locations flags easily accessible on the VKC Libraries website.
Senators debated the resolution because of its lack of clarity.
"In terms of what people said publicly, a lot of people [felt] the resolution wasn't written the way a resolution was supposed to be written," said Sen. Michaela Murphy, who co-sponsored the resolution. "I know a few people felt like channels of communications hadn't quite been exhausted yet between these students and administrators."
Sen. Shayan Kohanteb argued that while the idea behind the proposal was valid, the resolution needs more work and support from the right stakeholders before it can be passed.
"From the ability to actually put the flags in the library, to speaking to the important constituents and faculty required, to change the document all together just to give it to the Senate, USG requires work and dedication and it just didn't seem like authors had achieved that," said Kohanteb.
In response, many of the resolution's authors and sponsors cited a lack of accessibility or willingness to communicate from the administration as an explanation for it being underdeveloped.
This sparked comments from audience members, who noted that being a minority often creates a barrier to visibility from the administration and prevents the recognition of issues of representation. They reaffirmed the importance of USG members using their titles to help those with less power make changes.
"I hope that the next Senate … continue[s] the movement," co-Chief Diversity Officer Shany Ebadi said. "I hope that it didn't die last night. It brought the attention to a lot of people's minds. I spoke about how students from certain marginalized communities will not be able to easily access those positions of power, as a Senator might. And so it's really a great weight on their shoulders to speak up for those students."
However, "abrasive language" and a need for further development and communication with officials resulted in a failure to pass the resolution.
Additional reporting by Meagan Burke, Dylan Schloss and Kate Aschkenasy