Posters, Banners, Chalking, and Graffiti

Posters/Flyers/Signs

The Office for Campus Life maintains a webpage of the Posting Policy for Student Events. Visit the page for comprehensive information. Some information most relevant to free expression is included below.

General Poster Guidelines for Student Organizations and Departments

• Posters advertising events sponsored by TCU-recognized organizations, including all fraternities and sororities, may be posted on campus only in authorized areas.
• Postings should be attached with tacks or masking tape (Scotch brand adhesive tape, duct tape, glue, and staples are not permitted).
• Organizations may not place their posters such that they obscure the posters of others.
• No more than six total posters (maximum size of 11 x 17) will be allowed per event on the two primary outdoor posting locations on campus which include the Campus Center Breezeway between Bookstore and Mayer campus Center and the walls along the Tisch Library steps.
• Any posting that cannot be immediately and easily removed, such as stickers, paint, spray chalk, is prohibited.
• No posting inside any residential building. Please refer to the Residential Life Posting Policy below for information on how to promote within a residence hall.

Authorized Locations for Posters

• Designated bulletin boards in academic buildings across campus, including: Aidekman, Barnum, Eaton, Olin, SEC, and 574 Boston Avenue.
• Designated bulletin boards in the Mayer Campus Center, Dewick, Carmichael, Tisch Library, Tisch Sports Complex, 230 The Fenway, and in the six Identity Centers (with permission).
• Designated outdoor boards, including: outside of Goddard Chapel, near the Cannon, outside Anderson Hall, and outside of Dewick.
• The walls of the Campus Center breezeway between the Bookstore and the Campus Center.
• The walls along the Tisch Library steps.

Unauthorized Locations for Posters

• Any location on campus not specifically designated as an authorized location. Please note that the listings below are provided only as examples, and not as a definitive list.
  • Inside any residential building. Please refer to the Residential Life Posting Policy for information on how to promote within a residence hall.
  • Building walls or any surfaces, exterior or interior.
  • Any entrance, exit, classroom or hallway doors of any campus building.
  • Any classroom, lab, or learning space, including walls, whiteboards, and furniture.
  • Fences, trees, patios, pavement, sidewalks, steps, handrails, light posts, street signs, trash cans, shuttle stops or Tufts Bike kiosks.
  • Bathrooms or bathroom stalls of any campus building.

Residence Hall Posting Policy

Residential Life and Learning is responsible for the oversight and management of over 75 university housing buildings and supporting the 4,000 residents within our residence halls, small houses, and apartment complexes. 

Only Residential Life and Learning staff are authorized to hang posters anywhere within or on university housing. We are here to support student organizations and departments and ensure adherence to the posting guidelines. 

• All posters must be submitted to and approved by Residential Life and Learning. 
• To receive approval, you can email your design to studentservices@tufts.edu or bring
  your posters in person to 120 Packard Avenue. 
• It may take up to one week for posters to be distributed to our buildings- the earlier items are submitted the better.

Additionally, posters or flyers intended for university housing must follow these guidelines:

• Posters and flyers may only be hung by Residential Life and Learning staff members. Any posters that were not posted by Residential Life and Learning staff will be removed.
• When flyers are dropped off, they should be collated by building for wherever the posters should be distributed. The poster distribution numbers are listed in the table below.
• Door signs/nametags or other items may not be affixed to individual student room doors except by the resident of the specific room themselves or by Residential Life and Learning staff.
• If you or your organization have welcome/name signs to put on student doors, please be in touch with studentservices@tufts.edu with your specific request. Residential Life and Learning staff will hang these for you, if approved. Individuals or organizations may not post them themselves.
• Solicitation or posters advertising paid services will generally not be approved.
• The sponsoring organization and individual contact information must be included clearly on the poster. Only Tufts University organizations are permitted to submit items for posting.
• Violations of this policy may result in student/organizational conduct action & loss of posting privileges.

Please contact studentservices@tufts.edu with any additional questions by email.

Residence Hall External Spaces Policies

While students do have the freedom to be creative within their room, please note the following regarding exterior displays:

• The University assigns only the interior of student rooms for student use.
• The University does not grant students permission to decorate, or in any way modify, the exterior of university buildings.
• Students may not hang any banners or items outside their university residence windows.
• Displays inside the window of a student room are permissible provided they do not interfere with egress in case of an emergency.
• Room decorations must be directed toward the inside of the room.
• The use of marking chalk or aerosol spray cans to mark/paint any surface of the residence halls is strictly prohibited.
• The outside of the residence room door (not the surrounding wall or doorframe) is also considered to be the interior space for purpose of decoration. 
• Students may decorate their door with items such as a message board and other materials that they choose. All displays and messages must adhere to established university policies as outlined on the Student Life website. 
• While others cannot dictate how a resident decorates his or her own door, short of a violation of community standards, all residents are encouraged to be sensitive to the values and beliefs of other residents when choosing what is displayed.

Banners

• No banners may be posted on the exterior of any university buildings, including residence halls and fraternities and sororities. 
• No banners may be hung or draped on trees, lampposts, or other structures, including stakes in the ground. Banners or placards may be held by those participating in an event, rally, or demonstration. 
• Banners may be put out on tables to advertise while tabling at approved campus tabling locations.

Image or Message Projection

• Projections of images or of messages on any campus properties or areas--including but not limited to the sides of buildings, sidewalks, roofs, landscape, etc.,--are strictly prohibited.

Chalking

• Chalking is permissible in outdoor, public areas where it can easily be washed away by rain. Chalking is not permitted in areas inaccessible to rain, such as the walkway between the Campus Center and the Bookstore or any vertical surface such as the sides of buildings, retaining walls, or the backs of steps. There is to be no use of materials other than water-soluble sidewalk brand stick chalk, such as spray chalk.
• No chalking of any kind is allowed on Matriculation Day or Commencement Day without prior approval.

Graffiti

While we understand and value that principles of expression and creative vision are integral to an artistic learning environment, the destruction and/or defacement of any university building and property is vandalism. Students that are responsible for acts of vandalism are subject to disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by committee. Please see Community Standards (IV. Policies Regarding Student Behavior, Section Q.)

Off-Campus Advertising

Off-campus advertising is only allowed with the permission of the Office for Campus Life.