Tyler Mickschl, a 28-year-old senior studio art major at Sacramento State, is facing a university disciplinary case that could end in expulsion over chalk messages that appeared on the walls of Kadema Hall during a silent protest about neglected art department facilities. He denies chalking the building himself, and he says the university came after him only after he spoke publicly about why the protests happened in the first place.
The case has stretched into an open investigation while Sacramento State reviews whether Mickschl violated campus policy, according to the Sacramento Bee. A disciplinary notice obtained by the paper said he could be denied access to campus, suspended or even expelled if found responsible, and could be liable for thousands of dollars in repair costs. Mickschl told the Bee the process has caused him significant stress, including fear that his diploma could be withheld; he is a studio art major specializing in ceramics.
Two Chalk Protests at Kadema Hall
The protests trace back to an email about Arts and Letters funding and building conditions, according to the State Hornet. Students held a first demonstration and then returned for a second protest that same night, at about 11:09 p.m. on September 29, the student paper reported. University crews power-washed the chalk messages the following morning and later painted over the walls; the Bee reported separately that all the chalk graffiti had been washed off Kadema Hall by Thursday afternoon.
Sacramento State’s rules, adopted in 2016, bar chalking on walls and vertical surfaces but permit it on walkways, concrete and asphalt areas at least 30 feet from building entrances, per the Bee’s reporting. The university has since said that renovation funds for Kadema Hall have not been revoked but instead placed on hold for review. The State Hornet reported that a budget document had authorized $640,000 for renovations to Kadema Hall, the library and an existing lab in Amador Hall, while the Bee reported that the university allocated $240,000 in one-time reserve funds in 2022 specifically to finish Kadema Hall renovations — accounts that describe different funding figures the available reporting does not reconcile. The Bee also reported that roughly $94,000 of that allocation had been spent, leaving a balance of $146,000.
A Student Who Says He Was Targeted
Mickschl denies that he personally chalked the building, and he told the Bee he believes he was singled out after speaking to the State Hornet about the reasons behind the protests. The investigation remains ongoing…