Countless universities, including our own, have had small traditions of sidewalk chalking, a creative advertising strategy that can sometimes look very cool. However, a recent MSU announcement has deemed this illustrious practice inappropriate. We feel the announcement stretched things out of proportion, as there are many advantages to utilizing sidewalk chalk.
The announcement simply stated sidewalk chalking is “inappropriate” and implied the reason for this is that Facilities Management routinely has to clean up the chalk. While we appreciate all that Facilities Management does for the campus, the beauty of sidewalk chalk is that it is not at all permanent and usually disappears as soon as it rains.
Furthermore, the prohibition conveyed in the MSU announcement e-mail message against sidewalk chalking is nowhere to be found in the solicitation policy linked to in the very same e-mail message. If MSU is serious about banning sidewalk chalking, there should be a clear, written policy.
Perhaps there are concerns about inappropriate advertisements, such as advertisements with profanity or obscene language. In this case, we feel it would be better for the university to consult the groups responsible for any inappropriate advertisements and make those groups clean up the chalk instead of punishing small groups on campus that may really need the free and easy advertising.
There is also the fact that this university has tried to tout its environmental awareness. Using sidewalk chalk to make advertisements reduces the paper that would be used making reams of paper fliers. If anything, sidewalk chalking could be a further testament to MSU’s attempt to be aware of the environment.
Speaking of paper fliers, we would like to take this moment to show our appreciation that the announcement warned against placing fliers underneath windshield wipers of vehicles. This is, indeed, a very annoying practice.
What does MSU stand to gain with tightening advertising restrictions on campus, especially concerning something as harmless as sidewalk chalk? Using chalk is a free way for students and student groups to express themselves and should be part of a university striving to involve students who leave the campus too many times on the weekend as it is.
The Reflector editorial board is made up of opinion editor Matt Watson, news editor Lawrence Simmons, assistant news editor Josh Starr, sports editor Brandon Wright, entertainment editor Bailey Singletary, photo editor Bud Sorey, copy editors Aubra Whitten and Carl Smith, online editor Adam Kazery, managing editor Kyle Wrather and editor in chief Erin Kourkounis.