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• Paint The Rock to share a message, celebrate an event, or show support for a cause that matters to you.

• Use it as a space for creativity, advocacy, encouragement, campus pride, and connection.

• Take photos to capture your message, artwork, and the story you’re adding to The Rock. 

• Please don’t guard The Rock or prevent others from painting it. The Rock is a shared campus space, and everyone should have the same opportunity to participate.

• Participation should always be voluntary. Please don’t require members or potential members of a student organization to take part in painting The Rock.

• Help preserve The Rock by using paint only. Please don’t alter its size, shape, orientation, or structure in any way.

• Please don’t build or place structures around The Rock to paint it.

• Please keep vehicles off the grassy area and sidewalks around The Rock.

• Keep messages appropriate for a shared campus space. Messages may not include obscene material, including content that depicts or describes sexual conduct in a clearly offensive way and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

  • Messages may not be discriminatory or harassing.

  • Messages may not encourage harm, threats, or illegal activity. 

If guidelines aren’t followed, the university may paint over the Rock or take further action.  

• Paint the whole Rock so each message has its own clear space. Please don’t add comments to someone else’s message or paint only part of The Rock.

• While not a requirement, we encourage community members to allow up to 24 hours for an existing message to be viewed before adding a new one whenever circumstances permit.

• Consider adding the date and time to your work so others know when the message was painted.

• Clean up after yourself and leave the area as you found it so the space stays welcoming for everyone. 

The Rock is more than a campus tradition. It is one way Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State students can share ideas, show support, express concerns, celebrate community, and take part in the university’s commitment to freedom of expression. 

Learn more about Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State’s free speech policy

• Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State supports open expression and the exchange of ideas, including ideas people may see differently or disagree with.

• For generations, students have used The Rock to lift up campus events, respond to important issues, honor moments that matter, and make their voices visible.

• Each new message becomes part of an ongoing campus conversation, one shaped by creativity, care, and respect for the broader community. 

What this means in practice 

• You are welcome to use The Rock to express ideas, celebrate what matters to you, or help others feel seen and supported.

• Others have that same opportunity, even when their message or perspective is different from yours.

• University guidelines for time, place, and manner help keep The Rock safe, accessible, and available for everyone to use. 

Why it matters 

The Rock works best when students use it thoughtfully. Every layer of paint is a chance to express yourself, listen to others, and add to a campus tradition that reflects the many voices of Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State.