Students at King’s have voted to leave the controversial Hammer & Sickle, the insignia of the Soviet Union, hanging in their College Bar.

After 48 hours of voting, results show that 203 students wanted the symbol to remain where it is, 111 wanted it replaced with something else, and only 55 wanted it removed outright. Voting took place by single transferable vote, and undergraduate and graduate students voted together.

Speaking after the vote, KCSU President Juan Zober de Francisco told Varsity: "The fact that a clear majority decided to keep the Hammer & Sickle flag up as it is does not by any measure mean this debate is resolved. The last big debate about the flag was held five years ago. I'm confident that somewhere down the line - and most probably in less than five years time - there will be another debate about the flag.

"If people are unhappy with the result (as I'm sure some are), there are avenues for them to express their discontent. Personally, I feel the past two weeks have been largely constructive and positive, and I think we're all glad that this issue has (at least temporarily) been put behind us."

Stephen Downie, who opposed the retention of the Hammer & Sickle, said: "Naturally I'm disappointed, but I respect that this is what the majority of King's students want."

The controversial symbol, which was once the flag of the Soviet Union, sits inside a gilded frame and has been hung in the College bar since 2004. The decision to hang the flag was made after repeated cases of vandals painting the symbol on the bar walls.

In recent years, however, the flag has attracted fierce debate from many who find the image to be objectionable and offensive.

Arguing in favour of its removal, Downie said, “King’s bar is a place where members of the College should feel comfortable. I know for a fact that some King’s members and some visitors have people in their family who were persecuted or killed under the Soviet Union.”

He added, “Although [the flag] may be a part of King’s history, it is an embarrassing and anachronistic one which harms our College’s reputation and alienates certain members of the College community.”

KCSU members were also keen to emphasize the historic nature of the referendum. The constitution of KCSU had to be suspended to allow the vote to take place.