UCI student meeting on flag-ban vote canceled because of threat

A “viable threat of violence” prompted UC Irvine to cancel a student government meeting scheduled for Tuesday night, when student legislators planned to discuss whether to override the veto of a controversial measure that would have banned the American flag — and all other flags — from a small area of the campus, university officials said.

An announcement from the university hours before the meeting said officials received the threat Tuesday, but UCI spokeswoman Cathy Lawhon declined to describe it in detail.

The legislative branch of the student government sparked controversy last week when it voted to ban all flags from a common lobby in the offices where the Associated Students of UCI meets.

Part of the resolution said the “American flag has been flown in instances of colonialism and imperialism” and added that flags in general “construct paradigms of conformity and set homogenized standards.”

The resolution passed the legislative council 6 to 4, but a five-member executive cabinet of students vetoed the measure Saturday and voiced opposition.

The legislative council could have overridden that veto with a two-thirds vote at Tuesday’s scheduled meeting, but three student legislators said on the group’s Facebook page Sunday that they had no intention of overriding the veto.

The threat Tuesday specifically targeted the meeting, Lawhon said.

A message posted on the Associated Students of UCI’s Facebook page said student government representatives consulted with campus administrators and agreed with the university’s decision to cancel the meeting.

“As of now, the measure of highest importance for ASUCI leadership is the safety and well-being of all students and the campus community at large,” the message said.

UCI police are increasing security around campus and have asked students to be on alert, according to the campus announcement.

Officials said they also have tried to keep student government leaders apprised of the backlash to the flag vote, Lawhon said.

She said a wanted-poster-style message being circulated on social media contains the names and pictures of the students who voted for the ban.

“It’s very unfortunate,” Lawhon said. “It makes them feel unsafe, and we’re trying to give them all the support we can.”

UCI administrators have condemned the vote. A statement Sunday from Chancellor Howard Gillman called it “outrageous and indefensible.”

But in a statement Tuesday, Gillman said the campus will not tolerate threats of violence.

“Regardless of your opinion on the display of the American flag, we must be united in protecting the people who make this university a premier institution of higher learning,” he said. “Our campus must be a place for safe and civil discourse. We continue to call on everyone to condemn all harassment and threats of violence.”

— Staff writer Nicole Knight Shine contributed to this report.