LOUISVILLE, Ky. — No chalk or yard signs—that could be the future of the University of Louisville's campus, with added rules on what signs can be placed and where.
"Students are gonna chalk. Chalking has been a tradition across all campuses across the country," UofL sociology professor and department chair Lauren Heberle said. As someone who studies social policy, she believes the university is making a mistake with its latest proposal, which would restrict chalking and signs on the main campus.
"It's an unnecessary limitation," she added.
Yard signs, even though they're advertising courses available at the university, wouldn't be allowed under the proposal. Only yard signs with arrows pointing toward events or buildings would be approved. Regular chalk on the sidewalk—even if it would wash away in the rain—would be banned entirely.
A UofL spokesperson told WHAS11 in a statement:
“The University of Louisville is committed to fostering a welcoming and vibrant campus environment. We have developed and are reviewing feedback from various stakeholders on a proposed policy to streamline on-campus signage. This policy aims to create a more aesthetically pleasing environment and improve campus wayfinding.
UofL is a diverse academic community with well-established values regarding freedom of speech.”
The new policy would also ban flyers posted on buildings or walls, instead requiring that posters go on bulletin boards with extra regulations.
"People should be cleaning up after themselves, obviously, but those bulletin boards aren't enough room," senior Ethan Badger said. "If this rule takes effect, regardless of that, we need to make more bulletin boards and put them in a more visible spot."
Previously, he put up small flyers advertising his reptile non-profit on doors and bulletin boards.
There are even more rules in the proposal for larger signs.
"Banners like this would probably come into question. I don't know," Heberle said, looking up at the sociology department's Black Lives Matter banner. "This department came together and decided this was an important thing for them to state to make sure that their students and faculty felt comfortable here."
The policy takes aim at banners or signs posted inside and outside. They would need approval from the university's marketing team and building managers.
Heberle understands the need for cohesive branding, though she fears it could silence departments or student organizations.
The professor is also critical of the proposal's timing since many staff and students are gone for the summer.
The university is gathering comments on the rules change until July 12.
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