Excessive posters prompt talk about new policy

BY KARINA RAJTAR
Editor in Chief

“I was walking through Saint Mary’s Hall, and it threw up on me,” senior Brian Smith joked while emceeing “Blue Angel” earlier this month. Smith is not the only one to notice the recent surplus of posters and fliers around the Saint Mary’s University campus, especially in Saint Mary’s Hall.

“It really clutters things up,” said Jason Richter, assistant dean of students for leadership, service and activities. Richter said he generally does not approve any advertisement larger than the size of a poster board, but this year there has been a significant increase in the number of posters made out of the large rolls of paper found in the workroom in the basement of the Michael H. Toner Student Center. The size of posters is not the only problem, Richter said. Even small posters can lose their appeal when used in large quantities in one area, he said. Richter also said that groups advertising with posters often neglect to remove them, so he has a student worker walk around campus and remove outdated fliers every week.

Richter acknowledges that getting events noticed can be tough, but he said this should not force groups to cover every open surface with event promotions. “Saint Mary’s Hall is beautiful,” Richter said. “We do not need to be hanging things from the banisters.” There is a policy regarding posters on campus, but it is largely un-enforced. Page 60 of the undergraduate Student Handbook states: “No announcements may be taped to windows, room doors, interior or exterior walls, doors, trees, sidewalks, or any other place other than the area designated for announcements.” This designated area, according to both Richter and the handbook, is any of the numerous bulletin boards on campus. “It really needs to be self-enforced,” Richter said.

Richter suggests clubs and organizations take advantage of technology to promote events by using Facebook, YouTube and channel 10. He also said that word-of mouth is the best way to publicize events. The handbook does exclude one bulletin board from student use, saying, “All postings on the main bulletin board opposite the stairs on the first floor of Saint Mary’s Hall are for current academic and administrative uses only.”