Wichita State student says chalk drawings not meant to be offensive

A student has come forward to claim responsibility for four chalk drawings on Monday that included racially offensive images and language, according to a news release from Wichita State University.

The student told campus police that the drawings were intended to provoke discussion not disparage minorities.

Campus police were alerted on Monday to four chalk drawings on campus that included derogatory references to race, sexuality and ethnicity. One drawing depicted a black person, another a native American and a third used an epithet to describe the person as gay. Each drawing contained an epithet on the forehead.

Each of the drawings had also been slightly altered. In one of the drawings, the eyes had been smudged out. In another, the ears had been smudged out. And in a third the lips had been smudged out.

The drawings were done in chalk, according to the news release, because they would wash away and not leave any lasting damage.

“We’re satisfied that this matter is resolved,” said Chief Sara Morris in the release.

This story was originally published December 9, 2016 at 12:27 PM with the headline "Wichita State student says chalk drawings not meant to be offensive."