Many times I have noticed that bathrooms with graffiti are usually the most dirty and disorderly. When I see graffiti in a public bathroom, almost always there is toilet paper thrown about, the ground is damp and dirty, and the bathroom smells horrible. 

Although there could be many other factors, filth and campus graffiti seem to be strongly correlated.

According to the custodial staff, vandalism is the biggest problem to clean up. Of their limited budget, De Anza spends $700 a month on chemicals to remove graffiti. 

Additionally, these chemicals are potentially damaging to the environment and staff who are exposed to them.

Some students who say they have occasionally written or drawn on bathroom stalls did it because they were responding to another graffiti scribble that was previously left there and wanted to add something. But if there was no graffiti to begin with, they would not have drawn or written anything.

Any scribbles drawn will most likely be removed by the end of the day and serve no purpose but to inconvenience those who see it or have to clean it up.   

Many people may assume that there is nothing wrong with some harmless pictures or scribbles drawn. 

I agree with social psychologist James Q. Wilson who linked urban vandalism to behaviors that lead to additional crime. 

Valdalism and graffiti, however differ in the sense that graffiti can inspire political and social commentary.

England’s Banksy or America’s Andre the Giant Has a Posse  are well known satirical street artists. Graffiti can inspire movements by stunning people with  political and social commentary. 

In fact, the act of graffiti itself takes a rebellious stance against property ownership by claiming something else as your own through art.