|
What is the Talk about Sidewalk Chalk?
by Briteny Dies
Click photos to enlarge
09/14
09/23
09/23
09/23
09/23
09/23
09/23
09/23
09/23
|
Has freedom of speech been eliminated for students involved with chalk writing on the sidewalk?
The Student Government Association on September 22 voted 21-16 to require prior approval of all writing on the walks.
Under the regulation, "The use of sidewalk chalk on campus sidewalks and buildings is prohibited everywhere on the Mars Hill College campus unless previously approved by the student life office." The rule cannot go into effect without approval by the Student Affairs Council on Thursday, Sept. 29.
The sidewalk chalk writers were not easily discouraged. The morning after the vote, the walks were newly covered with poetry and passages from literature.
For many students at Mars Hill College, writing on the sidewalk has been a way to express their emotions and opinions. For other students it seems more of a hassle and annoyance.
An informal group of students, calling themselves the Guerilla Poets, began gathering together at night during the spring of 2004 to write poetry and favorite passages from literature on the campus sidewalks. The chalk talk appeared from time to time the following year, along with writings from other students - more poetry, meeting dates, and random statistics. More guerilla chalk talk has appeared this fall.
Following the SGA vote, a guerilla poet wrote this thought for Hilltop:
"Why would someone censor our creative expression of speech? How are quotes from Wendell Berry, Edgar Allen Poe, Rilke, Hughes, and Rumi offensive, obscene, or ugly? Rather, these poetic statements intellectually beautify the campus. They literally and figuratively create colorful dialogue on issues that matter. Do those who imposed this restriction fear the students' creative expression? What initiated this proposal now? Why didn't someone advocate for a restriction on sidewalk chalk last semester? What is it that they really fear?
Brandon Jeffs, senior class president and student director of campus activities, wrote the proposal requiring approval of sidewalk chalk. Brandon said in an interview that he feels that sidewalk chalk is "unnecessary and doesn't enhance beauty of the campus."
He considers it childish. Of all the messages on the sidewalk, Brandon remembered only one standing out in his mind that he appreciated.
"I liked the one that Amanda Orders did with the messages about Sudan. It had some sort of purpose," said Brandon. The sidewalk writing gave statistics about victims of government-sponsored attacks in the Darfur region of the Sudan.
Some students said that they never really had a problem with chalk until opposing groups last semester battled in chalk writing over a controversial campus issue. At the time, Open Doors, a group of homosexuals and their supporters, was seeking membership in SGA.
Although Junior Tyler Wilkinson stops and reads many of the writings and feels some are "comforting," his experience last semester changed his mind. He was in front of the business building and a couple of guys made disrespectful comments to a member of Open Doors. At that moment Tyler felt, "this is a problem…
"You know it wouldn't be such a problem if students didn't make it such a problem. It wouldn't be a big deal, but the comments the students make and the faculty make, makes it a big deal."
Tyler thinks that there will not be a distinctive change in the writings because most of the writings are not offensive, and they will be approved anyway. "It just won't be a thrill for the sidewalk writers anymore."
Lindsay Schrenkel, a freshman, has never written on the sidewalk but says, "I'd like to.
"At lunch we have discussed it among my friends, and some people don't like it because they think it's messy, but I like it as long as it is not derogatory. I think it is a good way for people to express themselves, and a lot of what they put in the quad is literary quotes that came from people before," said Lindsay. "We used to do it in my old school. We would write our own poetry and then go out and write it on the sidewalk. Just as long as it stays positive!"
Virginia Bowers sent her class out to pick their favorite message on the sidewalk. Chloe Pinnix, a freshman student in the class, admired the "ART OF LOVE" message and even wrote it in her notebook.
"I think it's really neat how they could express how they felt on the sidewalk. They have things about love, life, judgment and then about God," said Chloe. "I never knew that there was a story about sidewalk chalk. I think they should keep it."
Ryan Pickens, an instructor at Mars Hill, also likes the chalk writing tradition. "I think it's awesome. It allows people to voice their true opinion and what they think. It's creative with all these different colors. Cement is boring. Our world is filled with way too much cement."
Ryan often catches himself reading while he is walking and he said the chalk "gets me thinking. Whether I agree or not, it gets me thinking, and sometimes it says things that are really important to me."
The SGA should not try to control chalk talk, he says, because "it seems like a total dictator classic way of managing. (They) need to realize that a lot of people get joy out of writing on the sidewalk and voicing their opinion."
Ryan believes that "tradition has allowed us to write on the sidewalks. It's not permanent. If it's chalk it disappears, which is an analogy that a lot of this does wash away as time moves on." As long as it is not permanent, he has nothing against it.
"It seems to me, it's putting way too much bureaucracy in a really simple process, and our world has a lot of unnecessary bureaucracy. Our administration does not need an authority figure dictating what can be put on the sidewalk. Not a big deal. Eliminate bureaucracy!"
Reader Comment:
Chelsey Gaddy - Senior, 9/26/2005, 10:21:01 p.m. - Just for a small clarification: I am SGA Secretary and I have been actively involved in this proposal and the process of getting it passed in SGA. Most people that know me personally on this campus know that I am probably one of the biggest advocates of freedom of speech a person can find!...(click to continue)
Brandon Jeffs - Senior, 9/27/2005, 11:56:37 a.m. -
Please leave me alone about the sidewalk chalk. Just because I proposed it does not mean that I am the only person who supports it. It was approved by SGA which is a representative body of the whole school which means that there was a majority of the school in favor of this, not just me. So I would appreciate it if the students and faculty did not stop me everywhere I go to argue about this issue. Thank you!
Cody Reynolds - Junior, 9/27/2005, 7:30:03 p.m. - First of all, I am all for freedom of speech, however, the sidewalk chalk writings, I believe, make the college look trashy. They could find a better way of getting their messages across to people. We want a nice looking campus, not a trashy looking one.
Laurie Pedersen - Sociology Instructor, 9/29/2005, 3:26:34 p.m. - It is hard to imagine the inspired words of Rilke or Wendell Berry or MLK or the Bible as "trashy." Sidewalk chalk writings are a complete delight. Those I have read have contained no hardcore profanity or hate speech (the only things that might justify censorship). Remember-clean sidewalks are a sure sign of small minds.
Give us your feedback. We value your opinions.
The Hilltop reserves the right not to post anonymous comments or any that could be judged slanderous, that make unverifiable allegations of fact, or use language we consider in bad taste.
All fields must be filled in.
HOME
| 
