Following widespread criticism over the arrest last week of a chalk-wielding graduate student — and a second arrest this morning — the University of Arizona has decided to drop criminal charges against both students, according to the Arizona Daily Wildcat, the student newspaper. Jacob Miller, the graduate student arrested last week, had used sidewalk chalk to advertise a campus protest, and Evan Lisull, the student arrested today, had expressed in chalk his support for Mr. Miller.
The university’s president, Robert N. Shelton, now says students accused of similar acts will be referred to the dean of students for disciplinary proceedings, according to a statement quoted by Tucson Weekly.
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5 Responses to Erase That: U. of Arizona Decides Not to Prosecute Chalk Artists
22238751 - September 29, 2009 at 9:29 am
Chalk up a victory for common sense in Arizona.
rebest1 - September 29, 2009 at 9:31 am
“…students accused of similar acts will be referred to the dean of students for disciplinary proceedings…”Double secret probation, no doubt.
ipfwcomm - September 29, 2009 at 11:10 am
our campus actually still has chalkboards, with chalk just sitting there, tempting those scofflaws who haved a pathological urge to write things on flat surfaces. Perhaps a better approach would be for Arizona to begin a “chalking” remediation program, or start distributing free pencils and sheets of paper to those who just can’t help themselves.
guate520 - September 29, 2009 at 2:58 pm
It seemed like a good thing when they dropped the charges, but I wonder, are internal disciplinary proceedings actually an improvement, given that sanctions can range up to expulsion? And *really*, now the university is disciplining its own students for a “free speech” offence? At least in court, there was a chance the judge would see the absurdity of it and throw the whole thing out. Now university officials are prosecutor, judge, and jury.
11272784 - September 30, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Gawdalmighty, didn’t we learn in the 60′s that trying to suppress this kind of dissent or expression leads to campus unrest and problems? I’m glad to hear that a moment of sanity prevailed. DUDE – it’s a student with chalk. Get a grip. Chill!