By Tom and Jerry Caraccioli
SUNY Oswego students walking down the long corridor connecting Swetman Hall to the Marano Campus Center may not know it, but as they pass the Flags of Nations every day they are getting a geography and history lesson.
Celebrating education with diverse voices by displaying 74 flags of countries in which the members of the student population represent, the Flags of Nations display was originally conceived in 2017 and is dedicated to alum and philanthropist Charles Wiley.
The pennant-filled passageway represents students from countries that need a visa to attend; countries from U.S. territories and protectorates (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and more), as well as students from sovereign territories located within North America (First Nations, Native American, American Indian, or Indigenous Nations). The display also recognizes the indigenous connection of the Oswego community in the beginning of colonial times when it was part of the Iroquois Nation.
SUNY Oswego’s history regarding international students is long and storied. It has hosted international students and scholars since the school’s founder, Edward Austin Sheldon, hosted two visiting teachers from Japan in the early years of the college. To this day, SUNY Oswego continues to host students from Japan every year. Though the number of students and countries represented changes from year to year, the commitment has been steadfast since the school’s founding.
“It is important to show the flags,” Associate Provost for International Education and Programs Joshua McKeown said. “The flags represent the global reach and reputation of SUNY Oswego, as well as highlight where our students come from so that all are aware and feel welcome.”
A campus flag committee serves in an advisory capacity to the vice president for student affairs and chief diversity and inclusion officer and works toward making sure newly matriculated foreign students’ flags are represented in the display.
And while the attendance of international students at U.S. colleges and universities is a hot topic making headlines in the United States, especially in Washington, D.C. because of current White House policies, McKeown notes that “policies regarding student visas and immigration in general present challenges at the moment, but students are still applying and want to come,” he said. “The distinctiveness of SUNY Oswego and attractiveness of studying in the United States still hold immense appeal for students all over the world. We welcome them.”
Flags representing students from the following countries include:
Angola, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Czechia, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam and Yemen.
A mounted plaque in the concourse of the Marano Campus Center best sums up the sentiment of why this display is important:
SUNY Oswego’s Flags of Nations represent the international and indigenous connections of the SUNY Oswego community.
Each flag displayed represents an enrolled SUNY Oswego student. We display these flags to acknowledge, celebrate and honor the history, places and experiences of our diverse community.
Tom and Jerry Caraccioli are freelance writers originally from Oswego, who have co-authored three books: “STRIKING SILVER: The Untold Story of America’s Forgotten Hockey Team,” “BOYCOTT: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” and “Ice Breakers.”
