Trinity students have gotten innovative and the chalk marks all the way from Murchison Hall to Coates or Mabee Dining Hall testify to this claim. It is such an innovative form of publicity since anyone passing through that way(which every First year including several others do) cannot miss it.
But we need to ask ourselves one question, is that the kind of culture that we want to promote? I agree that publicity is important and when Trinity students are largely indifferent to several events and activities being hosted and organized, the organizers need to become innovative and market their event. But is this necessarily worth the increased attendance?
Personally, these colorful chalk marks do not disturb my mental balance or my introspective state severely as I am walking across these paths but come on, what about the aesthetic appeal of the university? What about the rules about publicity of the university? What values do we as an institution want to convey to the outsiders (parents, prospective students and possibly evaluators)? How much is too much?
Surprisingly, the publicity sites seem to be guided by viral multiplication if you see how the chalk marks have extended from merely stairs to outside Mabee Dining Hall, even ResLife entrance and its vicinity. And although these are somewhat easily erasable, we should not forget the chalk particles get stuck on our bottoms of shoes and slippers and are carried inside the Dining Hall and our Residence Halls.
Currently, I am unaware of the Trinity's policy even though I know Trinity maintains a pretty strict policy in sticking out flyers and posters on random public places for any event or activity. I honestly think that the concerned authorities have to step in at this moment before we send a wrong message and encourage cultivation of an unhealthy publicity culture.
