After writing in chalk on a sidewalk to promote an anti-sweatshop rally on Nov. 14, a Penn State freshman received a fine for $330.43 -- the estimated cost to erase the markings from a university sidewalk.
According to an allegation filed with Penn State's Office of Judicial Affairs Nov. 20, Christopher Stevens was drawing arrows and writing "Fair Trade Parade 1200 HUB" on the sidewalk near Boucke Building when two Penn State Police officers stopped him. Stevens (freshman-psychology), a member of United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), was advertising a USAS event that would urge Penn State President Graham Spanier to sign the Designated Suppliers Program (DSP). The DSP is meant to prevent the use of sweatshops by Penn State apparel manufacturers.
Stevens' father, Robert Stevens, a Penn State educational psychology professor, declined comment.
Aaron Troisi (graduate-crime, law and justice), a USAS member who joined Stevens in chalking that Wednesday, said he views the fine as an "attack against activism," mentioning that Spanier has yet to meet with USAS to discuss the DSP.
"It's pretty ridiculous, especially because it rained later that day," Troisi said.
Stevens said he was not sure how Office of Physical Plant (OPP) came up with the number for his fine.
"I am guessing that 43 cents is for the water and the $330 is for the labor," Stevens said.
Paul Ruskin, OPP spokesman, said he was not familiar with Stevens' incident but that "occasional" chalking can cause damage resulting in significant labor and material costs.
"The sidewalks are designed for pedestrian transportation. They're not designed to be a message or communications system," he said. "The marking material can be absorbed into the texture of the concrete, so it can take a lot of scrubbing."
Karen Feldbaum, associate director of Judicial Affairs, said chalking violates Penn State policy AD-2, which prohibits writing on campus structures.
"If he could cause that much in damage, imagine what the millions of children in the world could do with their sidewalk chalk," said Ben Brewer (senior-Spanish), USAS member. "Spanier goes to great lengths to try to show that Penn State is a student-friendly university, but this seems to indicate that if you want to make your voice heard, you have to pay $330."
Brewer added that this fine is reminiscent of last spring's criminal charges filed by Penn State against Olivia Guevara, a graduate student who paid for damages to Old Main's doors with similar chalk markings. The criminal mischief allegations were eventually dismissed by Centre County District Judge Jonathan Grine because of a lack in evidence.
According to The Daily Collegian archives, Guevara paid about $136 for the repairs.
Stevens said he does not think he will be making any court appearances for his chalking -- an action he confessed to on the spot.
"When I talked to the police officer, he said I was cooperating very well, so they decided not to press criminal charges," Stevens said.
Brewer said he thinks the absence of criminal charges are because Penn State "wants to handle things in-house this time to avoid public embarrassment."
Stevens said he plans to appeal to Judicial Affairs next week.
Feldbaum said misconduct allegations warrant a mark on guilty students' discipline files until three years after graduation.
