A student walks in front of State Senator Demora’s chalk message in front of the Ohio Union. Credit: Reegan Davis | Managing Campus Editor
State Senator William “Bill” Demora arrived at Ohio State campus on Wednesday with red and white chalk to write one message; “Welcome Back Students!!! GO BUCKS!”
While the message itself is welcoming, encouraging and unproblematic, many are familiar with Ohio State’s chalking ban – which forbids all forms of chalking across campus and went into effect in August 2025 – and Demora, a Columbus Democrat, is no stranger to the policy.
“I’m just trying to make a point that the campus policy of no chalking is unconstitutional, illegal and ridiculous,” Demora said. “And I’m going to do everything I can to end the policy.”
Demora wrote the message in front of the Ohio Union on the side facing N. High St. at around 2:00p.m.
Demora also said that he let the university know that he was coming, and was not here to surprise anyone. He pointed out section 3345.0212 of the Ohio Revised Code regarding “noncommercial expressive activities on campus.”
“It says ‘no state institution of higher education or any of its administrators acting in their official capacity shall prohibit any individual from engaging in non-commercial expressive activity on campus, so as the individual’s conduct is lawful and does not materially and substantially disrupt the functioning of the institution,’” Demora said, quoting the Ohio law.
Demora said that because of this code, his chalking is legal and he was not bothering any students and faculty on campus.
“What I’m doing is completely lawful to protect the speech under the Constitution of the United States,” Demora said. “I think the policy needs to end and students ought to be given the right to express themselves with jockey.”
Demora is running for reelection in November, where he is running against Republican Don Roberts, according to Ballotpedia.
The university updated its signage policy on Aug. 14, 2025, which not only states that chalking is banned on campus, but that students may be fined for any damages to campus property, per the university signage standards.?
“Chalking is not permitted on campus and will be removed by Facilities Operations and Development, which reserves the right to charge for the cost of any repairs required due to removal,” the policy states. “In addition, any students found to be responsible would be subject to potential conduct referral.”
After its announcement during the Autumn 2025 semester, students have been protesting the policy in support of free speech and democracy, per prior Lantern reporting.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio sent a letter to Ohio State, specifically President Bellamkonda, urging the university to lift the ban and saying that it is unconstitutional, per prior Lantern reporting.
“Students have a right to express their political views on campus free of this kind of discrimination, even if those views may offend some of their peers,” David Carey, managing legal director for the ACLU of Ohio, stated in a July press release.
University spokesperson Ben Johnson said that Ohio State supports the right to free speech for the campus body.
“Ohio State is committed to protecting free speech and expression on our campuses, and we support the right of students, faculty, staff and visitors to speak out about issues that are important to them,” Johnson stated in an email.
