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.
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."
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.
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."
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