Restroom graffiti at The University of Memphis has become a typeof off-line forum, where students exchange comments and comebacksand get advice on everything from how to find Jesus to how to finda good time.
But for U of M custodial supervisor Reddie Stevenson, theproblem of restroom graffiti is no laughing matter.
"In some buildings, (the graffiti) is pretty heavy," Stevensonsaid. "It's pretty embarrassing to walk in and see it on the wall.We try to remove as much as possible before it gets out ofhand."
Stevenson and other U of M staff members routinely scrubrestroom stalls to rid them of mundane and unmentionableexpressions.
Restrooms in the Elma Roane Field House and Mitchell and ClementHalls have more graffiti than other campus facilities, Stevensonsaid.
"I've seen phone numbers (on the walls) for people who say theywill perform sexual acts," said Chris Short, junior businessmanagement major.
For the most part, U of M students remained tight-lipped orindifferent to the subject of graffiti. The Physical Plant staffmembers are newly determined to wipe it out as soon as it appears,they said.
"What made me alert our staff about graffiti were complaintsabout racially insensitive graffiti," said Calvin Strong, PhysicalPlant director of custodial and landscape services. "If we wipe outall graffiti, then we don't have to worry about what kind itis."
Some U of M students and staff members offered theories on whycollege students draw or write on campus walls.
"(They do it) to express themselves, to be rebels or toadvertise their organization or gang," said undecided freshman EricWoods.
Junior art major Daniel Lacroix said he believes students engagein graffiti out of boredom. Physical Plant electrician Willie Fasondisagreed.
"We know these people (who engage in graffiti) have a slightmental problem," Fason said. "Normal people don't do that. I betthey don't spray that stuff (on the walls) in their houses. It'spitiful."
In the past, many university campuses have reported majorproblems with graffiti. Oberlin College in Ohio, which experiencesa high incidence of student art spray-painted on campus buildings,reported a cost of 15 hours a day at $22 an hour per removal.
The U of M's graffiti problems seem confined to permanent markeron the restroom wall.
"I would say we have an average or even slightly below-averageamount of graffiti on campus," Strong said. "But we can handleit."
