To the Editor:
So far this term, the U.S. flag and Dartmouth flag on the Green have been flying throughout the night. Efforts by us and others have been unable to find a proper explanation for this. With our warm weather as of late, there should not be a problem with the flags freezing to the poles. By flying the U.S. flag at night and in bad weather, Dartmouth College violating the U.S. Flag Code -- a federal law.
The Flag Code states, "The flag should be flown only from sunrise to sunset. Upon special occasions, however, it may be displayed at night to produce a patriotic effect ... There are other places where the flag is flown day and night according to local custom." (The Flag Code, excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, 1993, 1994).
The month of January is not a "special occasion" to fly the flag. Facilities Operation and Maintenance has installed lights at the base of the poles, but they illuminate the poles and not the flags. The lack of lighting upon the flags fails to produce a "patriotic effect." Even if properly lit, we do not have a "special occasion" to continuously fly the flag. Finally, there has not been a prevailing "local custom" for the flag to be flown 24 hours, 7 days a week at Dartmouth -- at least not in the last 3 years.
The Flag Code continues: "The flag should be displayed on all days when the weather permits." Again, the weather, as we all know, has not been particularly marvelous during the past three weeks. Rain, snow and misty fog have made this one of the worst winters in recent memory. Hence, neither the Dartmouth flag nor the U.S. flag should have been flying.
A college which holds a high degree of sensitivity towards its symbols should show the same respect for the symbols of our nation. It is very unlikely that the New Hampshire state police will come crashing down on the College for this violation, but Dartmouth, a college based upon "community," should be a law-abiding institution.
