Bodhi Haugen
A few strokes of a paintbrush can erase someone’s tag from a campus wall, but not without a financial toll. Last year, across Cal Poly Humboldt those cleanups totaled 360 hours of labor and $33,209 in costs.
Graffiti on campus, as well as cover-up jobs from Facilities Management (FM), can be seen in bathroom stalls, under bridges and on walls inside and outside buildings. From small doodles to larger pieces, the relationship between artists and FM has been a source of frustration for each other.
FM received 245 work orders and requests related to graffiti removal in 2025 according to the department. Mike Fisher, associate vice president of FM said staff encounters graffiti on a nearly daily basis. Removing it can require pressure washing, sanding, repainting or replacing the affected surface.
When asked what was most commonly seen written around campus — whether it be political statements, people’s tags or gibberish. Fisher said, “It runs the gamut.”
Graffiti has been an issue for FM, but some students enjoy the extra color seen around school. Caden Tablada, a junior accounting major, sees a difference between graffiti and vandalism — even when it’s on campus though he rarely sees it around.
“Graffiti is definitely not vandalism. Vandalism is like actively trying to worsen something and not try to add any artistic value with your piece,” Tablada said. “Say if it’s on some blank wall, then that’s not vandalism. You know, that’s just adding a little bit more color to campus.”
Robby Bennett, a senior theater arts major, grew up in San Francisco seeing a lot of graffiti and understands how graffiti as an art can go both ways.
“I think all graffiti is vandalism,” Bennett said. “Obviously, some vandalism is crude and some is more artistic, but graffiti is definitely vandalism. Sometimes I see it and I think it’s a shame someone has to clean drawings of penises off the wall. Sometimes I see it and I think it’s nice art or a message.”
When asked whether or not artists consider this relationship between FM and graffiti, Bennett was skeptical.
“Probably not or if they do they probably look at it with an us vs. them,” Bennett said.
He also described why vandalism could be an outlet for a lot of students, explaining its recurring practice.
“I think a lot of people who do it just do it to break the conventions of society without being punished,” Bennett said. “Let out some steam.”
The relationship with artists and FM will continue to be an uphill battle on campus. According to Fisher, FM views graffiti as vandalism regardless of what is written or drawn. The department would rather direct their energy towards issues that could better campus rather than addressing the writing on walls and stalls.
“Our FM employees take a lot of pride in their work and pride in this University,” Fisher said in an email on Sept. 29. “Anytime vandalism occurs, it takes away from other positive things we could be doing.”
Bodhi is a reporter and news editor for the Lumberjack. You can reach him at bgh27@humboldt.edu