Exhibition of Flags from Bascom Hall Flagpoles

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Policy Number:

UW-6149

Responsible Office:

Campus Planning & Landscape Architecture

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

This policy establishes the requirements for the proper display of the flag of the United States and other flags from flagpoles at Bascom Hall under federal and state law, specifies the types of flags that may be flown from such flagpoles, and delegates to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration the authority to determine when flags other than the Flag of the United States, the Flag of the State of Wisconsin, and Flags of the University of Wisconsin may be flown from such flagpoles.

Definitions:

Flag of the State of Wisconsin

The flag described in Wis. Stat. § 1.08.

Flag of the United States

The flag described in 4 U.S.C. Ch. 1 §§ 1 & 2.

Flag of the University of Wisconsin

Any flag or banner containing text and/or image(s) intended to convey to a viewer that the flag is being used as a symbol or emblem of the University of Wisconsin System or the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Scope:

This policy applies to the display of flags from the flagpoles at Bascom Hall.

Policy:

Flags displayed from the exterior flagpoles at Bascom Hall shall be in conformance with the position and manner of display in U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S.C. § 7), state law regarding the display of flags at public buildings (Wis. Stats. § 1.14), and standards set forth in this policy.

1. Standard Policy

   1. Unless otherwise specified in this policy, the Flag of the United States shall be displayed at full staff from the rooftop flagpole at Bascom Hall from sunrise to sunset, with the Flag of the State of Wisconsin displayed directly beneath it from the same flagpole.
   2. The Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin may be displayed from the rooftop flagpole at Bascom Hall twenty-four hours a day if the flags are all-weather flags and are illuminated at night.
   3. The Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed.
   4. Only Flags of the United States that are manufactured in the United States may be displayed from Flagpoles at Bascom Hall.
   5. Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin shall be displayed on Memorial Day at half-staff until noon and on such other days as ordered by the President of the United States or the Governor of the State of Wisconsin in accordance with the U.S. Flag Code.
   6. Unless otherwise specified in this policy, when the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin are displayed from the rooftop flagpole at Bascom Hall, Flags of the University of Wisconsin shall be displayed from the ground-level flagpoles in front of Bascom Hall. The Flags of the University of Wisconsin shall be all-weather flags displayed twenty-four hours per day.

2. Exceptions

   1. The flagpoles at Bascom Hall are not intended to serve as a forum for free expression by the public. In addition to the Flag of the United States, the Flag of the State of Wisconsin, and Flags of the University of Wisconsin, the following flags may be displayed from the flagpoles at Bascom Hall in accordance with this policy and at the direction of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration:
      1. Flags of other nations recognized by the federal government, including federally recognized tribal nations;
      2. Flags of other states and United States territories, including the District of Columbia; and
      3. Flags of Wisconsin municipalities.
   2. When a flag of another nation, including federally recognized tribal nations, is displayed, the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin shall be lowered from the flagpole atop Bascom Hall and raised on the ground level flagpole furthest to the right when facing Bascom Hall, with the Flag of the State of Wisconsin flying directly beneath the Flag of the United States. The flag of the other nation shall be flown from the ground level flagpole furthest to the left when facing Bascom Hall, and no flag shall fly from the flagpole atop the roof of Bascom Hall. The flag of the other nation shall be approximately the same size and flown at the same height as the Flag of the United States.
   3. When a flag of another state is displayed, the Flag of the State of Wisconsin shall be lowered from the flagpole atop Bascom Hall and raised on the ground level flagpole furthest to the right when facing Bascom Hall. The flag of the other state shall be flown from the ground level flagpole furthest to the left when facing Bascom Hall. The flag of the other state shall be approximately the same size and flown at the same height as the Flag of the State of Wisconsin. The Flag of the United States shall be displayed from the flagpole atop the roof of Bascom Hall.
   4. When a flag of a Wisconsin municipality is displayed, the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin shall be displayed from the flagpole atop the roof of Bascom Hall. The flag of the Wisconsin Municipality shall be displayed from the ground level flagpole furthest to the right when facing Bascom Hall. The Flag of the University of Wisconsin shall be flown from the ground level flagpole furthest to the left when facing Bascom Hall.

External References:

Flag of the United States:4 U.S.C. Ch. 1 §§ 1 & 2

Flag of the State of Wisconsin: Wis. Stats. §§ 1.08, 1.14

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:

Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration

Policy Manager:

Associate Vice Chancellor Facilities Planning & Management

Contact:

Director, Campus Planning & Landscape Architecture -- Scott Utter, scott.utter@wisc.edu, (608) 263-3023

Effective Date:

09-01-2022

Date Issued:

09-01-2022

Retrieved:

11-01-2025 05:28:31