This spring, the Protect Life Chapter at Eastern Michigan University promoted their organization’s beliefs in chalk along the campus sidewalks. As students, faculty, and visitors saw things like “abortion hopscotch,” “Protect the rights of the unborn,” and “Planned Parenthood KILLS” posted around campus, the subject of abortion became a hot topic.
“I am a big believer in free speech, and I'm happy that they feel this campus is a place to express that speech, but as an organization, we feel that they should have to play by the same rules and regulations as everyone else on campus," said Diara Lloyd, president of the Planned Parenthood Generation Action chapter at Eastern. "We as a student org are disappointed that the school isn’t holding them to the same standards as everyone else.”
The rules Lloyd referred to are written by the The EMU Student Center Marketing Communication Procedures: “All advertising material is subject to approval by the Student Center Administration.” Chalking must be an advertisement for an event that takes place at the Student Center or on campus. “Prior to the Application of Chalk, Student Organizations must contact the Custodial Department at 487-3684.” The Custodial Department must receive the name of the organization, contact person’s name and number, and the date of chalking.
- After the chalking is approved, these rules and regulations apply:
- Chalk must be washable
- Apply chalk to approved areas only
- Obscene or derogatory wording or images are not allowed
- Do not apply chalk within ten feet of any building entrance
- Remove chalk one week after event or apply for extension
- Student Organization is responsible for removal of chalk
“The admin has to see this, they walk by it every day," Lloyd said. "We shouldn't have to do anything about it. They should do something about it.”
Lloyd and the rest of PP Generation Action are concerned how these public statements make EMU seem to visitors.
"Everything that they [Protect Life EMU] do, like the chalking and stopping people on the bridge, doesn’t necessarily harm the students, but it is a problem for visitors on campus," Lloyd said.
Lloyd is concerned about tourists or possible future students seeing what she calls “harmful rhetoric” and not getting a clear picture of what the school stands for.
"Some of the things they say are simply untrue, Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that they are attacking, and they a do a lot of good work around our community," Lloyd said. "The fact that they are making people afraid to go there is disgusting.”
The Planned Parenthood Generation Action group on campus counters the anti-abortion chalk messaging by crossing out, washing away, getting rid of, adding to, or changing what someone else has already written.
"We go over whatever they said and we write the truth," Lloyd said. "[As an organization] we follow the rules … we have used posters, and we primarily promote through fliers, tables at events, and social media ... we never chalk unless it’s through counter chalk.”
The Eastern Echo asked Lloyd if the opposing groups had ever spoken or if she had any interest in doing so.
“Two years ago [Protect Life at EMU] came up to our booth during Winterfest, and they kept asking us to debate them," Lloyd said. "We as a campus organization, as well as all Generation Action chapters don’t debate human rights, so we will not debate them."
Students around campus, not just those in a student organization, have made their voices louder on the abortion rights debate. In classes, with friends, on social media, and on the EMU Eagle app many students have brought up their feelings and arguments both on the issue at hand and the chalk itself.
Nevaeh Ford posted on the Eagle app, “guys don’t waste your time protesting at the pro-life event today. All they do is record and edit the videos to make everyone look wrong.”
Alyssa Rodwell posted, “Pro lifers outside Pray Harold watch out!”
Aspen Barren wrote, “I bought the chalk… I’ve started at Pray Harrold and throughout next week it’s simply on sight if I see anymore bs on the sidewalk.”
With an attached photo of the very wet sidewalk, Taiyler Stanfield posted, “Whoever poured water all over the ‘Protection at Conception’ and pro-birth chalk writing that was polluting the sidewalk, thank you for your service.”
Logan Bush said, “‘abortion is simply never medically necessary’ -the chalk writing near the library. My brother, have you heard of an ectopic pregnancy??? Like, at this point it’s not even ‘oh we disagree on this socio-political debate’ it’s just straight-up ignorance on your part.”
While students have been continuously sharing their opinions on the matter, nobody has gone to administration about the issue, and the administration has yet to step in on the rule-breaking chalk.
