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12.5 Flag Policy

Macalester College was among the first in the nation, and the first in Minnesota, to fly the flag of the United Nations. The U.N. flag, along with the U.S. flag, continues to be displayed as a symbol of Macalester’s commitment to international understanding.

There is interest also on the part of the College community members to display on campus the flags of their countries, ethnic groups, and cultural communities. There is recognition that a display of any particular flag may elicit different reactions in different cultures.

Macalester has established the following policy for the display of flags.

  • The main campus flag pole is located in the plaza south of the Chapel and is reserved solely for displaying the United States and United Nations flags.
  • The U.S. flag will be lowered to half staff at the direction of the President of the United States or the Governor of the State of Minnesota. Further, the U.S. flag will be lowered to half staff at the direction of the Macalester President’s office, for the death of current members of the faculty, staff, student body, Board of Trustees, a close friend of the College, or a former member of the faculty, staff or Board of Trustees.
  • Display of flags representing other countries that are recognized with permanent observer status or are members of the U.N. will be displayed on the flag poles at the west entrance of Carnegie Hall. Determination of the flags to be displayed will be made by the Dean of International Studies and Programming.
  • The flags displayed at campus events represent international students studying at Macalester College whose countries are recognized with permanent observer status or are members of the U.N.
  • Flags representing groups, cultures, or nations not specified above, may be displayed at a designated place (currently the Student Union). Determination of the location and the flags to be displayed will be made by the Dean of Students.
  • Inquiries about the Flag Policy should be directed to the Office of the Provost.

Reissued September 1, 2000