Resolution: UA R12: Requiring All On-Campus Flags to be Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Those Lost to COVID-19
| Date | 03/11/2021 |
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| Action | Rejected by the President |
| Notes |
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| File Attachment | |
| Text Attachment | Dear Logan,
Thank you for submitting University Assembly Resolution 12, “Requiring All On-Campus Flags to be Flown at Half-Staff in Honor of Those Lost to COVID-19”, for my consideration.
The scale of the suffering and mortality brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic is staggering, and I share the UA’s desire to recognize and mourn the lives lost. However, 4 U.S.C § 7(m) regarding “Position and Manner of Display” of the flag stipulates that only the U.S. President and state governors can order U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff. For this reason, and regrettably, I cannot act on this resolution.
In February, President Biden ordered flags to half-staff for several days in remembrance of the more than 500,000 lives lost to COVID-19 in the U.S. Unfortunately, here on campus, this order was missed due to a staff outage, a fact we were made aware of in the process of researching the UA’s resolution. Our staff members are working to revise our flag customs process to ensure all buildings with flags are coordinated in the future.
Sincerely,
Martha E. Pollack
Martha E. Pollack
President, Cornell University
300 Day Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
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