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UMaine students weigh in on Question 5: The state flag referendum

The Maine state flag has remained unchanged since 1909. However, the 2024 Referendum seeks to adopt a new design. Question 5 on the ballot asks whether the people of Maine favor the lone pine over the state seal. A vote for yes is a vote to put this change into effect, switching the official state flag to the design chosen from over 400 submissions by artists across the state. The lone pine flag features a green pine tree centered on a beige background with a blue star in the top left corner. This is based on the original flag adopted in 1901, which has popularly remained an unofficial flag of the state. 

University of Maine students offered their opinions about this referendum question, and the answers demonstrated passion for enacting this change to the state flag. A majority of students polled plan to vote yes on Question 5, and none of them were short of reasons. 

“I went to Rockefeller Center two weeks ago where all the state flags are displayed, and I couldn’t find Maine’s flag because they all look the same. I want to make sure we vote yes to make sure our state flag is just as unique as we are as a state,” said Meredyth Waters.

Waters’ response was followed by murmurs of agreement from the surrounding crowd, making it evident that most students hold a common consensus about what the new flag means to them.

In an article published by Bangor Daily News, the Editorial Board described five guidelines of vexillology — the study of flags— of which a flag should follow. According to them, the current Maine flag fails four out of five of these loose rules. The only criteria it meets is “using meaningful imagery,” as given in the article. However, they express that they feel this imagery is “outdated.”

Many students on campus agree, feeling as if the current flag lacks cultural significance. For some it’s less about the new design and more about ditching the old one. 

“It’s not as good as the original lone pine, but it’s better than the one with the two random white men,” said Gabby Keebler, who particularly had issue with the lack of diversity showcased in the state seal. They not only felt personally unrepresented, but as if it discredited the people of Maine in general.

To some students, the lone pine is already the flag they associate with Maine. Others disagree.

“I like the current one better. The new one is so simple, it looks like it has less meaning than the other one. I feel like the one we have right now represents the state as a whole. It’s harder to get the representation of the state of Maine out of the pine tree one,” Kai Harden said. 

Harden portrayed how much opinions may vary based on the same information. While many felt the state seal lacked representation, others felt that it held a great amount. It is important to note that people have varying experiences of living in Maine. The state means something different to everyone, yet this year’s referendum seeks to unite the state under one common design.

The chosen flag will signify a consensus among the population of Maine. Whether old or new, the flag will have been chosen by the people of today for the first time in over a century.


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