Chalk it up

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.