The Observer, September 28, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 5
Spray chalk advertisements should be banned
To the Editor:
Chalking has been long utilized as a powerful advertising tool. It is a way of advertising that not only requires hard work, but also is weather-erasable (beautiful being that you don't have to clean it up yourself), therefore temporary. You advertise an event, it rains, your chalk is gone. Very simple. And once again, people have begun using spray chalk, the same as every year since I've been at Case. Spray chalk, rather than your typical block of chalk, comes in an aerosol can and, when used with a stencil, produces very detailed, crisp chalkings. However, unlike typical chalk, spray chalk has the unfortunate problem of being rain-resistant, meaning everyone is constantly reminded of things such as Springfest in the dead of winter, paws (?) guiding you to who-knows-where, the Asian American Alliance, Sigma Nu, Ron Paul, or even men's soccer. It looks very similar to real spray paint (perhaps too similar?).
The difference this year is that now someone has done it again. Delts of Hazzard lined the streets for over a year (reports say it's still somewhere on campus, but I haven't seen it), constantly reminding a lot of the campus either of a great, but past party or something they never attended in the first place. Regardless, it was a one-night event and did not need to be advertised all year long. But now we are all going to be blessed with the shapeless DJ and mic silhouette (while it looked very nice on the wall, the ground really just did not work out) all over the walk to the quad. Simply put, they knew better, but still did it.
Should they be punished or fined in some way? Not my argument. Retroactive punishment is a tough sell and that is really not my place nor my intention.
Should FUTURE users be fined? I believe they should. This is my plea.
If you believe that this practice must be stopped before our sidewalks become graffiti walks, tell people on USG to make it happen or tell them to support it when it comes around. Otherwise, I would be willing to bet you will be seeing "Vote [insert name] for Homecoming 2007" until the next construction project rips out the concrete.
Doug Bentley
Undergraduate student
