WOOW pro-choice chalk campaign ended by KPU Facilities

Chalk messages meant to respond to anti-choice posters on campus

“It’s pro-choice, or no choice,” read one of several messages written in Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Surrey campus courtyard on March 17. Another read, “Pro-choice, pro-disabilities, pro-your decisions.”

The messages were written in chalk by members of Women Organizing Opportunities for Women, a women’s collective on campus. They had arranged the event today in response to a series of anti-choice posters that had been put up around campus several weeks ago. The posters depicted graphic images of fetuses.

According to Jessica Lar-Son, a spokesperson for WOOW, the goal of their March 17 event was to, “spread positive, pro-choice messages.”

“Our aim is to provide information to students, and also to create a safe space for discussion and support,” says Lar-Son. “As our group consistently focuses on being respectful and engaging students in a positive, non-threatening way, our goal is to promote the policies on diversity and inclusiveness from KPU and hope that they are followed by all groups on campus.”

Once WOOW had begun writing the chalk messages, they were approached by KPU security and asked to stop. Allegedly, security had been directed by facilities to do so.

“After speaking with our staff, I can confirm for you that two students who were drawing in chalk on the pavement in the courtyard were asked to stop,” according to Corry Anderson-Fennell, manager of KPU media and communications. “As this creates additional work for our staff tasked with keeping the area clean.”

“Chalk is a fun, easy, and environmentally friendly way to spread positive written messages for our students,” says Lar-Son. “It will also be naturally removed by the rain.”

The chalk has now been removed.