Flag Display Welcomes Students from Around the World to UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A display of flags, representing the top 10 populations of students at The University of Alabama who have come to study from countries around the world, has been placed on the front of B.B. Comer Hall by the UA Capstone International Center for the campus community to view.

Representing 10 different countries, including the United States, the flags represent both the graduate and undergraduate international student populations. The country flags include (in order of number of students at UA from largest to smallest): United States, China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Japan, Canada, Turkey and Romania.

The flags were put on display about a year ago and continue to be an attraction for people as they cross the Ferguson Plaza near the building.

Dr. Jane Stanfield, associate provost for international education and global outreach, says that flags evoke strong emotions in people and students appreciate seeing their own country’s flags being displayed on our campus. The goal is to eventually display more flags, but with more than 88 countries represented on our campus, choosing becomes complicated, Stanfield says.

Numerous students have asked about the order of the flags and how they’re displayed, Stanfield has found. According to the Flag Code, the American flag is always hung first to the extreme left of the viewing audience when displayed with flags from other countries. The other flags are arranged alphabetically by the short conventional name of the country; for instance, Republic of Korea is alphabetized as K. All flags, including the American flag, fly at the same height except in times of war.

The Flag Code gives specific instructions on how the American flag is not to be used, including:

• The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
• The flag should not be used as drapery.
• The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except for a flag patch that may be used on the uniform for military personnel, firemen, policemen and members of patriotic organizations.
• When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object.

The Capstone International Center offers numerous study abroad programs, internships and volunteer opportunities. For more information, go to http://studyabroad.ua.edu/