By Joel Bartlett

I love it when QA chalks. I love to walk around the next day and read the chalkings. They make me smile, so it bothers me when I can’t read some because someone has erased them. This past National Coming Out Day I noticed many blurred out words, phrases and pictures, and judging from the water on the ground more erasing was attempted. A friend called it “selective raining,” also known as censorship. This censorship bothers me for three main reasons.

A year and a half ago, two students armed with a bucket of water and a broom erased chalkings I wrote about animal experimentation, for the Wesleyan Animal Rights Network. I still remember the unpleasant feeling of being silenced. It felt horrible to have my passion erased from the face of the earth. I wish that feeling on no well-intentioned being. To quote myself “To have seen my chalkings–my ideas, my emotions–rubbed out on the sidewalk greatly depresses me. I want to feel accepted and that there is a place for me, and my views. No student should have to fear the censorship of his or her beliefs.” (4/11/2000)

Secondly, I don’t believe the chalkings were disrespectful. I heard a student complain that she grew up learning that the word “dyke” was unacceptable and so she doesn’t like to read it, but I ask us all to look past what we grew up learning to what “should be.” I may have learned that IBM’s are better than Apples, but that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t question that belief. Censorship should only occur when the words will hurt more than they will heal. And, I believe that disempowered peoples can benefit more from chalkings then those who are in power will be offended.

Furthermore, I think that the chalkings are beautiful. They inspire me to fight for my beliefs. I have for quite some time been intellectually bisexual, not believing that homo and heterosexuality actually exist. But I have been quick to clarify that although I am not straight per se, I have strong heterosexual tendencies. But that’s not good enough for me anymore. I want to identify as queer with no clarifications necessary. And I don’t want to worry about how my parents and less progressive friends will react. When you erase queer chalkings you are erasing my inspiration. Please don’t do that. I won’t let the silencing continue. I have only been convinced that more chalkings are necessary, and as a matter of fact to attend my first QA meeting. I am now prepared to help in the fight. Now our voice is even louder.



Bartlett is a member of the class of 2003 and a member of W.A.R.N.