The outrage caused by a supposed “flag ban” on the University of California Irvine campus stemmed from a vote by six members of the Associated Students of the University of California, Irvine Legislative Council, a sub-committee of the full student government.
Three of those six members have now apologized in a statement on the council’s Facebook page. They attempted to explain what led them to vote against the presentation of the flag in the lobby of the student government offices and apologized for all of the negativity the school as a whole has faced as a result of their actions.
They also promised that they would stand behind the veto of their vote and said they plan to take no further action on campus flags.
Read the statement in full below:
We would like to address the reactions regarding R50-70 and explain to you all our intentions for voting ‘yes’ on the resolution. We deeply apologize for neglecting to consider the greater implications of our actions, and for the negative publicity that UC Irvine has endured as a result. As fellow students at UC Irvine, we are extremely grateful to be privileged enough to even have these kinds of conversations. We meant no ill will towards our nation nor its flag, and our school truly does not deserve the image placed on it in the public sphere.
Regarding the executive veto on R50-70, we have no intention of overriding it. We believe the matter will be properly handled by the action of the executive officers, and so, in this matter, entrust the governance of the common space to them.
Sincerely,
Matthew Tsai
Negar Fatahi
Naty Rico
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