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Show LIFE A8 JUNE 17, 2013 The flag of his fathers Apartheid is present in one student's crusade to hang his nation's flag By Alex Sousa Managing Editor @TwoFistedSousa There's a tattered piece of land on the west bank of the Jordan River. On a clear day and from a high hill, one can see the coast of the Mediterranean. And when the nights are cool a fog rolls in from the sea, and the wind can carry the sound of gunfire. Some people call this place Palestine, and some of them call it home. Inside the border of Palestine, the government of Israel is building a wall. An apartheid wall that the Israeli government says is there to protect their citizens. It's a wall that the International Court of Jus- tice says is in contrary to international law. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, says the Apartheid Wall is "a terrible symbol of fear and despair." Almost seven thousand miles away, a student at Utah Valley University is feeling the political effects of that symbol. Rashad Nijim, a student at UVU, is there now in Palestine. Hailing from California, he also holds Palestinian citizenship, where his parents are from. He's the student who has caused controversy at UVU by approaching the administration with a Palestinian flag so that they could hang it along with the dozens of other international flags outside the Pope Science Building. Nijim has been put off for months by the administration with a myriad of reasons why they can't hang the flag, or at least why they haven't done it yet. The reasons range from the claim that there isn't enough room in the hall of flags, or that they don't want to hang it up and risk offending any Israeli students on campus. "Which offended me, because he tried to say my flag would offend people," Nijim said in an interview. The controversy has been gaining attention with Nijim starting an online petition at Change.org , as well as posting his story on Reddit. com. And as the controversy boils, the university is taking their time to make a response; the decision is currently sitting with the Center for Global & Intercultural Engagement Advisory Council. UVU isn't a school known for its policies regarding student expression. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, gave UVU a "red" speech code rating, meaning that the university has at least one policy that "clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech." Although, the decision to hang the flag would qualify as "institutional speech," leaving Nijim with little legal recourse should the school decide to not allow the Palestinian flag to be hung in the hall. "There are varying and differing accounts and perspectives as to the history of this specific request and what this student has been told at this point," said Chris Taylor, spokesman for UVU. "This again speaks to the need for a more formal system. In any case, conversations on this matter with the student up to this point would best be described as informal." For now, Nijim is continuing to promote his cause, garnering support on his online petition as well as petitions on campus He's said he hopes that even if the school decides to not hang the flag that some good will come from this ordeal. NOW RENTING STARTING FALL Men's and Women's BYU & UVU Approved Single Student Housing Tropical Solarium With Year Round Beach Sand Volleyball and Pool! Come Live In A Student Complex Where Everyone Agrees To Live LDS Standards! We Are BYU Approved Student Housing With Easy Acess to UVU! 2 YSA Student Wards With Almost 400 Students! Large Private Rooms With Own Bathroom! Fully Furnished & High Speed Internet UTA Bus #830 Every 15 Minutes! 12 min ride to BYU & 14 min to UVU! CONDOM I N I UMS Prices Start At Under $300/month! ALEX SOUSA/UVU REVIEW The idea of apartheid have reached beyond the streets of Palestine. SUMMER from Al If you're not into the local scene, major tours always roll through the valley. Some upcoming notable concerts are The Barenaked Ladies, Warped Tour, and Stadium of Fire. If you're a fan of comedy, Salt Lake is home to a few different comedy clubs. The most notable of which is Wiseguys Comedy Club. This comedy club generally has better-known comedians on the weekends, but they host local comedians and open-mic nights during the week. If you're feeling funny, you can give it a shot yourself and watch other local comedians as they start on their journey to stardom. So, animals, music and comedy are all on the list for things to do this summer in Salt Lake. But what if you don't like any of those things? Well, there's always shop- ping to do, and Salt Lake has you covered in that regard. Salt Lake is home to a couple of large malls that draw in people from all over the area including the Gateway and City Creek. The Gateway is the older of the two. but it's still a great place to go and take an afternoon spending money or just window-shopping. It's alsc going to be home to the planned Lego store sometime this year. City Creek is the newest addition to the shopping scene in downtown Salt Lake and it is quite a beautiful addition. With many upscale shopping areas and a food court with a few interesting and delicious choices, there is something for everyone there. As long as you have a large wallet, that is. So if you feel like you have nothing to do this summer, think again, because there's always fun to be had if you know where to look. See the Wheelhouse On-site or BYU & UVU Off-Campus Housing Site For Avaialbility 724 West 1720 North - Provo LAURA FOX/UVU REVIEW The fountains at The Gateway provide relief from a long day of shopping. I save lives, you can too! Donate blood-plasma. 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