Harvard professors protest protest restrictions—with chalk

Five Harvard University professors wielded chalk on campus Tuesday in protest of the institution’s new policy banning chalking and other expressive activities.  

Ryan Enos, a tenured government professor who took part, told Inside Higher Ed that the professors wrote messages like “Why does a preschool have more academic freedom than Harvard?” and “I love puppies,” accompanied by hearts, on the pavement in front of the statue of John Harvard, a benefactor after whom the university was eventually named.

Steve Levitsky, another tenured government professor, said he wrote, “Welcome back students: Ask why chalking is banned.” In an email, Levitsky called it “a simple act of civil disobedience” to protest rules that “in my opinion, go too far in restricting students’ free expression.” 

Enos said the chalking was an attempt to call attention to the new restrictions “and encourage students and faculty to speak up about what we see as a restriction on something that should be a core part of what goes on at a university.” That something, Enos said, is free expression.

According to The Harvard Crimson, the university rolled out its new Campus Use Rules, which also prevent camping and other demonstration tactics, in August. The policy is part of a trend of colleges and universities adding restrictions on expressive activities in ahead of the fall semester, in the wake of last year’s pro-Palestinian encampments. Harvard’s new rules say people can’t “chalk, paint, engrave or otherwise write or draw on any university property without prior written approval from the relevant local contact.”

The policy doesn’t define what “local contact” means, and Harvard spokespeople didn’t explain the term to Inside Higher Ed Thursday or say whether the professors were being punished. “An issue was reported and addressed in accordance with normal protocols,” spokesman Jonathan Palumbo said in an email. Enos said he hasn’t heard from university officials about any punishment or investigations.