This Inside Column is a personal request to the administration to ban all chalk writing on the sidewalks on campus.

I think everyone's noticed that chalk writing on sidewalks has become a lot more prominent this year. Until recently, the Peace Coalition seemed to have a monopoly on the idea with messages slamming possible military action in Iraq. Campus sidewalks have become particularly crowded on football weekends with additional people and crudely drawn chalk messages vying for space.

Lately, a chalk war seems to have erupted between the Peace Coalition and some unidentified chalk writers. Walking around campus the other day I noticed messages that read, "Beat up Poor People," "Human: the other white meat," "Global Warming + Nuclear Winter = Perfect Temperature" and "Let's have sex with Sadaam."

I have no idea who wrote that last one.

These unidentified chalk artists also use the tactic of writing "Not!" after Peace Coalition messages, which can be pretty amusing.

My personal favorite, however, is "DeBartolo Hall = Stupid." Clever, huh?

These messages can be pretty entertaining. It's also refreshing to know that students on campus can express themselves in ways besides The Observer Viewpoint section. Despite this, I think all sidewalk chalk art should be banned.

I mean the University's already on a roll here. They've banned sex, hard alcohol and limited tailgating. I think banning chalk on sidewalks is a logical next step.

For an institution so concerned about looking aesthetically pleasing, I'm surprised they haven't considered this already. Every day, I see University groundskeepers toiling to keep the grass perfect, hedges trimmed and flowers blooming. If a leaf falls off a tree anywhere on campus, someone is there to clean it up. I don't think it's fair to ruin the hard work of these people by scribbling chalk on quad sidewalks.

Let's not forget the safety ramifications such a ban would have on the student body as well.

Campus sidewalks are already crowded, dangerous places, especially in the winter with ice. My walk to DeBartolo consists of dodging backpack wielding walkers, mad bicyclists and the occasional golf cart.

I don't trust these people as it is.

Adding distracting chalk messages on the sidewalk equals a formula for disaster.

Now I know some people are already upset at this proposal. They're probably saying, "What about my right to free speech?"

Well, we all have to make sacrifices sometimes. Free speech is great but not when it limits my right to walk to the Dining Hall without getting chalk on my shoes.

• Ban chalk on sidewalks