New College students have long since enjoyed decorating the campus with chalk. Recently, chalk art has been used as an avenue for anonymous self expression surrounding political matters. The expression falls within a gray area, and students could face consequences if the messages are defamatory or include hate speech. Conversation surrounding the subject is ongoing, and it frequently falls on Physical Plant workers to enforce college policy by hosing down the messages. These particular messages appeared between the dates of Oct. 3, following a Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting, and Oct. 8. The images have since been erased.
On the Tamiami Trail Overpass
Multicolored chalk art with swirls and exclamation marks. “It makes me think about the corruption. When they restrict every other method of speech, sometimes you have to turn to unconventional things,” first-year Monica Memon commented to the Catalyst.
Yellow chalk art.
A message in blue and pink chalk.
Chalk message in orange.
A message with flowers, swirls and cat.
A message in orange chalk. on the overpass. “You would think as the Board of Trustees, they would take more time to know their responsibilities and execute their meetings properly. Robert’s Rules aren’t hard to learn,” first-year Caralise Maloy commented.
Multicolored chalk art.
Pink, white and orange chalk art. It reads “Instead of meeting dissidence with compassion, you’ve met it with crushing force.”
By Hamilton Center
Chalk art featuring a blue shark.
Multicolored chalk art.
Mighty Banyan mascot rendering and message.
A message in yellow chalk.
Chalk drawing of a dragon head.
A message in colored sand.
Blue, yellow and pink image.
Message reads “Rufo nos odia! Que Nosotros Vivimos!” In English: “Rufo hates us! That we exist!” This chalk art appeared the afternoon after the Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting on Oct. 3, when board member Christopher Rufo motioned to deny the recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, and instead emphasized the recognition of Italian-Americans on Columbus Day.