UNCW students write positive messages with sidewalk chalk

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) —  In the wake of a divisive election season, UNCW students were out on Chancellor’s Walk Wednesday afternoon with sidewalk chalk to spread messages of positivity.

UNCW’s TealTV organization hosted the “Chalk Up Chancellor’s” event.

Students said there was a negative atmosphere on campus leading up to the election, which included numerous chalk messages for both candidates being crossed out several times over.

“There was a lot of advertising on campus, chalking, and counter advertising,” UNCW senior Miranda Fabian said. “I think the counter advertising is really where the negative vibe started is that people were crossing out others’ campaign messages and writing their own underneath it. And so that negativity was just, it started to kind of fill everyone. Because whether or not you wrote the message or were really invested on one side or the other, you were seeing these messages every day as you went to class.”

Jake Lampke, who hosts the TealTV political show ‘With the Facts,’ said he was doused with a bucket of water while adding a chalk message about the school’s political TV show. He hoped Wednesday’s event would help bring students together.

“I think that everyone needs to remember that the vast majority of people on either side are just normal, hard-working, honest, nice people,” Lampke said. “And that’s why we’re out here doing the chalking event today, trying to inspire unity in our campus.”

“Already, as we’re doing the event, we’ve got positive feedback and I’ve seen smiles on people’s faces,” Fabian said.

Organizers said they hope their event inspires other students and other campuses around the country to spread positivity.