Nicholls State University changes policy after state AG accuses it of being 'out of touch with the Constitution'

Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana has eliminated its chalking policy, which gained national attention in October after the university president said that the College Republicans chapter violated state law by writing political messages in support of President Donald Trump on the sidewalk. 

According to Houma Today, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said that the university was wrong for accusing the students of violating state law and campus rules, also stating that he would be reaching out to the president of Nicholls State University.

Again our educators seem to be out of touch with the Constitution! We will be looking into to whether the President of Nicholls colored these students rights! #studentshaverightstoo | News | https://t.co/5HEDqOjADh ## https://t.co/PjHjawXMEA

— Jeff Landry (@JeffLandry) October 20, 2020

According to the news outlet, after Landry had a discussion with Nicholls State President Jay Clune, the policy was changed.

“This week our institution has received a lot of attention for an incident that occurred on campus (Oct. 18) and our subsequent response. Based on legal counsel, I issued a statement that chalking campaign messages on public property was prohibited by Louisiana law. That position was later deemed incorrect by Louisiana’s attorney general, Jeff Landry. Based on his counsel, our chalking policy has been eliminated,” Clune wrote in an announcement.

[Related: Bates College removes Instagram post profiling conservative student amid backlash]

The College Republicans at NSU posted on its Facebook page thanking the Louisiana Republican Chairwoman for chalking with them. The now-deleted post, captured by the Lafourche Gazette, showed the College Republicans at NSU chalking messages supporting Trump. These messages included “MAGA 2020 and Geaux Trump.”

Citing state law, Clune initially announced that all political chalkings were prohibited at the school. The university policy required groups to receive permission before chalking.  

One of the students involved, Markaylen Wiltz, said that some of the students received police escorts due to the hostilities, according to the report.

[Related: Texas A&M thanks account targeting, publishing information of conservative students]

NSU Director of Communications Jared David told Campus Reform the decision was based on a desire to “not infringe on the rights of any of our campus community.”

Follow the author of this article: John Hanson