By Mark Dickinson

To the Editor:I believe the Macalester community fosters freedom of speech. But when that “freedom” is expressed by painting graffiti on sidewalks, buildings and signs, it is not welcomed and it is removed. The recent “Stop War” graffiti has cost the College staff and contractors over 40 hours of labor with a cost of approximately $2,000.

I understand that during the campus discussions there were many who stated their opposition to the spray painted statements and I applaud them!

The “half life” of graffiti is usually hours and I believe the College’s resources (mostly from student tuition) could be better spent than removing graffiti.

Mark Dickinson ’76
Director of Facilities Services