The University of Iowa will now enforce new boundaries when it comes to chalk messages on campus grounds.
Kendrew Panyanouvong
The University of Iowa has updated its chalking policy to enhance and specify the institution’s policies and regulations.
The updated policy outlines boundaries of who, where, and what UI students are allowed to chalk on school grounds. Chalking is most often used to promote events for student organizations.
“We realized we needed to provide greater information because the intent of the policy from the get-go was to always be about communicating registered student-organization events,” said IMU Executive Director Bill Nelson. “It became very clear that we needed to provide greater instruction as to what that meant.”
Under the updated policy, chalking is only limited to UI student organizations in the interest of promoting upcoming events. Rules include only chalking the event title, location, time, and the name of the sponsoring student organization.
Also included is the reiteration that chalking is only allowed on the T. Anne Cleary Walkway and sidewalks north, east, and south of the perimeter of Hubbard Park.
Defined on the UI Center for Student Involvement and Leadership website, chalking is interpreted as “the marking of a surface with chalk in order to publicize an upcoming event sponsored by a registered student organization.”
Only water-soluble chalk, known as “sidewalk chalk,” may be used on designated areas. While other updates include types of sanctions and consequences the UI may impose if student organizations violate the policy.
With the presidential election nearing, Nelson said he understands that it was important to update the policy because of political student organizations on campus gearing up for the season.
“Certainly, the university is committed to upholding the First Amendment and all other applicable laws that are paramount, and we will always do that,” he said.
Because the policy was effective as of last May, updates and the development of the language were created in partnership with the Student Involvement and UI Student Government.
UISG President Rachel Zuckerman said its commitment to promote and protect UI students’ First Amendment rights is important, detailing obligations to help enforce a healthy environment for free speech.
“I think our chalking policy is more important than ever to protect free speech,” she said.
Zuckerman stressed the importance of having regulations and writing of the policy “clearly down on paper,” while also adding that UISG hopes to provide more opportunities for students to learn about their free-speech rights through educationals.
“How do we promote diversity and inclusion with others comfortable sharing their beliefs?” she said.
Controversy erupted last spring after an anti-abortion student group’s chalking was erased by UI administration after student complaints. Daniel Larkin, the president of Students for Life believes the updated policy is counterproductive.
“I don’t think [the UI] quite understands,” he said. “When you start micro-managing seven words, you’re only limited to the student organization’s name and event title.”
Last spring, Students for Life chalked expressions regarding anti-abortion beliefs that were deemed offensive to UI students who complained. Following the complaints, administration washed away the chalking, leaving the group “disappointed.”
“It’s so hard because you have so many checks you have to mark when you have a policy like that,” Larkin said.
While a chalking policy was nonexistent only a few years ago, Nelson said the updated version is important to adhere to the rights of UI students, noting that the language of the policy was vetted carefully prior to its publication.
In an earlier version of this story, the DI incorrectly reported that the new policy limits student organizations to seven words when promoting events. Only the event title is limited to seven words, not the entire “chalking.” The DI regrets the error.
