Friday, May 29, 1998
Chalk it up
GRAFFITTI: Inexpensive, erasable way to spread the word causes concern
By Neal Narahara
Daily Bruin Contributor
You're accustomed to seeing it in the hands of small children, teachers and, at UCLA, in the hands of the politically active. They write on any flat surface within reach, voicing their concerns to the entire campus.
Chalking is different from other forms of expression because it appears on public property and is left for the university to clean up.
With the inauguration of Chancellor Carnesale and rising tensions over the issue of affirmative action, the number of chalk messages have increased noticeably.
Over the past few weeks, slogans such as "education not segregation" and "fight racism" have been written all over campus.
"We try to be sensitive, to the feelings of the students, but that's not how (the campus) is supposed to look," says Jack Powazek, assistant vice chancellor for facilities maintenance.
Chalk writing is not, however, considered to be a serious problem.
"We don't, in any way, ban it," said Robert Naples, the dean of students. "It involves the issue of free speech and expression."
Writing on walls is discouraged because it does not wear away like writing on the ground, which the university turns a deaf ear to.
Lyle Timmerman, executive officer of Student and Campus Life, said that sanctions would be made against any student groups caught writing on walls.
Realistically, this would not happen because the university does not enforce these policies. Even if the university did take action against a group, it would have to be a severe infraction to receive punishment of any consequence.
Campus officials' hands are too full trying to keep students from taking over buildings to worry about what they are writing outside of them.
Campus police, for the most part, ignore chalk writing. It is only considered to be a problem if the cost of damages exceeds a certain dollar amount. Chalk writing is easily cleaned up with a wet rag and a little scrubbing.
"It's temporary," says Nancy Greenstein, a spokeswoman for UCPD. "Our attitude is 'no harm, no foul.' It hasn't really been an issue on campus."
As a result of the politically open atmosphere at UCLA, chalk writing has occurred on campus for years.
"Nobody has been caught in the past couple of years I have been here," Timmerman said.
"In the 25 years I've been here - as an undergraduate until now - it has ebbed and flowed according to the political activity on campus," Powazek agreed.
According to Stacy Lee, USAC president-elect, student groups use chalk to advertise because "it's expedient, cheap and effective."
Flyers cost 8 cents a copy to print, whereas a box of twelve pieces of chalk costs 81 cents at the UCLA store - enough to write your own personal manifesto across the face of your building of choice.
On Wednesday afternoon, messages reading "Defy 209" could still be read on the outside walls of Ackerman Student Union following the protests the previous day.
Remnants of other messages can still be seen around campus. On the side of an unused ticket booth between the Los Angeles Tennis Center and Spaulding Field is written, "Chiapas Rally @ Fed Bldg 1/12 3PM." It has apparently become an annual event.
This message has been overlooked by campus maintenance, and has survived over four months past the announced event, despite rainy weather.
While political messages have been the most visible topic in chalk writing in recent weeks, advocates of affirmative action are not the only group that uses chalk for publicity.
The English department's marathon reading of "Invisible Man" and recent issues of FEM magazine have been publicized through chalk writings.
"Individuals have a right to express themselves, whatever way they feel," said Chad Williams, the chair of the African Students' Union.
The university's lack of concern over chalk suggests that they agree - as long as the writing doesn't escalate to crayon.