5 - 12.19

Administrative policy regarding painting the rock located on hilltop drive

  1. Policy statement. This policy establishes principles for painting the campus rock, a space provided to Kent state university students, faculty and staff to express themselves and share messages with the university community, in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and university policies. 

    Consistent with rule 3342-5-23 of the Administrative Code, the university is committed to maintaining a marketplace of ideas for all students and all faculty in which the free exchange of ideas is not to be suppressed because the ideas put forth are thought by some or even by most members of the university’s community to be offensive, unwise, immoral, indecent, disagreeable, conservative, liberal, traditional, radical, or wrong-headed. 

  2. Definitions. "Rock" means the boulder currently located on front campus near Hilltop Drive on the Kent campus. This policy also applies to boulders or structures that are or may be designated by the university used for similar purposes at a regional campus.
  3. Scope. Permission to paint the rock is limited to students, faculty and staff of Kent state university. The rock is the only piece of university property permitted to be painted by persons not affiliated with university facilities management and/or contracted by the university for professional painting services.
  4. Procedures.
    1. The following pPaintings may be removed or painted over at any time:  
      1. Paintings that are obscene (i.e. depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct so as to lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value),
      2. Paintings that are in violation of the university policies regarding unlawful discrimination and harassment (as defined in rules 3342-5-16, 3342-5-16.1, and 3342-5-16.2 of the Administrative Code), and/or,
      3. Paintings that are directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action may be removed or painted over at any time.
    2. With the exception of painting, the physical condition of the rock may not be altered in any way that will change its integrity, shape, size, or orientation.
    3. No person may erect any structure for the purposes of painting the rock.
    4. Guarding the rock is not permitted by any person.
    5. Members or potential new members of student organizations shall not be required or forced to participate in painting the rock; this is considered hazing.
    6. Persons or entities painting the rock are responsible for the disposal of all waste and will ensure the area is left in a clean condition.
    7. Vehicles are not permitted to be driven on the grassy area surrounding the rock or on sidewalks.
  5. Violations. Violations of any of these procedures may result in the university repainting the rock, returning it to a blank canvas. This determination will be made by the senior vice president for student life in collaboration with the director of public safety or their designees. Violations of other university policies or criminal laws associated with the painting of the rock may be processed according to those policies or laws. 
  6. Reserved powers. The preceding notwithstanding, Kent state university reserves the authority and right to paint the rock at any time at the discretion of the vice president for student life or the vice president's designee, in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and university policies.
Policy Effective Date:
Aug 31, 2026
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