Japanese, Chinese Houses Report Thefts of New Flags

Author: Jasmin Johnson

The Japanese House flag was ripped off its pole on March 17 while the Chinese House flag and its pole disappeared only a week prior, according to house residents and related Middlebury College community members, who still have no information regarding the motive or perpetrator of the thefts.

The Japanese flag was stolen two days after it had been mounted outside the house for the first time. Facilities Management personnel installed the new addition on Friday, and residents noticed Sunday morning that the flag holder hung damaged and flagless off a few nails on the wall.

"The act had to have been done rather aggressively, as the holder had been mounted a good eight feet above ground," said Emi Kubota '02, resident assistant (RA) of the Japanese House. "We had just gotten the flag after a long wait." She said that six residents had been "surprised" and "disappointed" by the theft. Established in the fall of 2000, the house is a new addition to the College's academic interest house program. House residents had been looking forward to having a flag, which Wonnacott Commons offered to purchase.

A similar theft occurred at the Chinese House, also a part of Wonnacott Commons. Their flag, mounted earlier this semester, was stolen at night, although residents observed nothing amiss and no other damage to the house's exterior. None of the other language houses have reported such incidents.

The motive of these cases of vandalism remains undetermined. The Japanese House is located on Adirondack View, near the majority of the College's social houses. As this theft appeared to have occurred at night, some have speculated that some late-night partygoers or pranksters were responsible.

That both Asian language houses were targeted may suggest that such acts were racially motivated. However, none of the Japanese and Chinese house residents have encountered similar incidents, and all have emphasized that they do not feel threatened in any way.

" I don't think that the thefts were racially motivated, but I think that people should realize the implications of their actions. There are implications they do not foresee," said Assistant Professor of Japanese William Gardner, adding that people could interpret the incident in various ways.

Peter Nestor '02, RA of the Chinese House, said that all eight residents are still hoping to have the flag returned, even anonymously.

"[Having a flag] was an important thing for the house, and [the theft] was damaging to the morale of the residents," echoed Kubota.

She said returning the flag was a matter of respecting a symbol that was important to Japanese community members and all those who felt connected to Japan and Japanese culture. "People would not steal an American flag from an American home because they know that Americans feel a strong connection to the flag," she affirmed. "People should reflect on their actions."