Once upon a time, the Hickman-Johnson-Furrow Learning Center shone with hanging flags. The library has always been one of the most beloved spots on campus—not only a place to study, attend tutoring sessions, and not just a place to grab a coffee at Spoonholder—but a space where students feel comfortable, welcomed, and part of something bigger. The colorful flags from around the world once added to that atmosphere, symbolizing the international community that calls Morningside home.
Every year, new international students arrive, while others graduate and leave. With them, they bring and carry away pieces of the university’s story. Yet their flags remained, marking their presence at Morningside, and introducing new countries that had never before been represented on campus.
The tradition of displaying international flags in the library dates back more than a decade. It began as a way to recognize the growing presence of international students on campus and to visually represent the global reach of Morningside’s community. Over time, the collection of flags became a living record of the countries and cultures that have shaped the university, a tradition many alumni still remember fondly.
For students, the flags were never just decorations. They were powerful symbols of identity, pride, and belonging. International students often felt comfort in seeing their home countries represented so visibly on campus, while domestic students saw them as reminders of the diverse perspectives enriching their classrooms and friendships. In this way, the library became more than just a study space — it was a visual celebration of global community.
This fall semester of 2025, the university made the decision to remove the flags from the library, explaining that they took up too much visual space within the building. The decision came after a few students voiced concerns about the flags.
However, the change has sparked mixed reactions across campus. The Collegian Reporter spoke with returning students to hear their thoughts on the library and the absence of the flags.
One returning student shared, “It reminded me whenever I came to the library that I have a place at Morningside”. Another added, “The flags made students feel included on campus,” while others described them as “a symbol that represented all the international students at Morningside.”
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As Morningside continues to grow and change, the discussion about the library flags shows how the university works to balance tradition with new ideas. While the hanging flags are gone, a new poster now displays all of them together — a way to keep the tradition alive in a different form. Whether on fabric or on paper, the flags remain a reminder of the international spirit that helps make Morningside special.
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