Tradition bridges the gaps in communication

Webster's Dictionary defines a bridge as a structure providing passage over a waterway or other obstacle.\nBut on Fee Lane and Jordan Avenue, they are also makeshift billboards. \nFrom personal valentines, charity event information or campus groups searching for new members, these spray-painted bridges always have a message for students. \nDean of Students Dick McKaig said the bridges were already being used as billboards when he came to IU in 1971. \n"There may not even be a bridge under there anymore; it may just be clumps of paint," McKaig joked. \nHe said he thinks students have always been allowed to paint the bridges. It has been a tradition without much institutional involvement and there are no real rules about who can do what. \nMike Crowe, director of IU facilities, said maintenance workers never sandblast the bridges or clean off the paint. As long as the students limit the spray-painting to the two bridges, he said he has no problem with it. \nJunior Holly Borneman served as assistant philanthropy chair for her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi. She said it used the bridges for its philanthropy event, "Strike-out Arthritis." She said she made sure to use bright colors and add where the event it was advertising was. \n"I know when I take the bus, I look and see," Borneman said. "I mean, they're on both sides of you when you go towards class, so I definitely look at it." \nShe said one problem spray-painters can encounter is that sometimes messages are painted over too quickly. All the work done might be gone in a day. \nMcKaig said he also has other concerns. \n"The bigger problems that we get into are environmental concerns about spilled paint or not cleaning up supplies," he said. "But generally speaking, I think the students have done a pretty good job." \nMark Nuzum, a staff member for Campus Crusade for Christ, said members of Crusade painted the bridges last semester to promote a creationist guest speaker. He said the bridges are great for one-time or annual events. While other campuses might grant more freedom than IU does for posters or advertisements in places like residence halls, the bridges are a nice way to make up for it. \n"I believe that the bridges provide a great avenue to invite students who might otherwise not see an ad in the newspaper because they don't read it or might not know somebody who's already involved in the event," he said. "It gives them an opportunity to come and be involved in something"