The executive board of the Coalition of Black Students has decided to not reschedule this year’s #PaintItBlack signing, which typically occurs in the spring,  and focus on the school year at hand. Last spring semester, poor weather canceled the fifth anniversary of the tradition.

The signing of the #PaintItBlack circle on Painted Street is an annual tradition. It gives participants the chance to vow allyship to students of color, according to CBS president Ty Walls.

“When you sign your name, you’re like, ‘I’m gonna treat everybody who I see equally or how I want to be treated,’” Walls said.

The tradition commemorates the #PaintItBlack movement that took place at Drake a few years ago. In Nov. 2018, in a Drake residence hall, an anonymous note was slid under the door of a student of color. The note contained racist rhetoric and threats, according to Terrance Pendleton, the associate provost and campus equity and inclusion authority. 

The next day, students developed an idea to paint Painted Street black as “a clear statement of solidarity,” according to a Times-Delphic article.  

Initially, Drake University President Marty Martin denied the request, Pendleton said. As the month progressed, four more “terrorizing” notes were found.

“Students, in particular Black students, started to organize a response to the anger and fear that these notes were creating, especially amongst Black students,” Pendleton said.

On Nov. 12, 2018, student organizations united and presented a list of demands to Drake administrators. Once again, students asked to paint Painted Street black. 

During the meeting, everyone’s phones began to ring. 

“It turned out that there was a neo-Nazi group from Idaho that started spewing more, very terrorizing racial rhetoric,” Pendleton said.

In that moment, Drake administrators gave the students permission to paint Painted Street black. 

Four days later, on Nov. 16, Drake held a rally on its campus. Administration canceled classes, local government officials spoke, allies offered support — and students and staff painted Painted Street black. 

Since the rally, CBS has worked to keep #PaintItBlack alive. Every year, CBS gives the black circle on Painted Street  a fresh coat of black paint. Then, allies sign their names on the circle in white paint. 

Last spring, the tradition turned five years old.  In commemoration, on April 26, in Sussman Theater, CBS hosted a panel featuring Morgan Coleman and Courtney Guein — two Drake students who were on the “forefront” of the #PaintItBlack movement and have since graduated.

After the panel, the panelists, followed by attendees, were supposed to sign the #PaintItBlack circle, but “inclement weather” prevented the activity, Vice President and Dean of Students Jerry Parker said in an email to the Times-Delphic. Instead, attendees signed a virtual pledge.

According to the National Weather Service, on the day of the commemoration, two-thirds of an inch of rain fell. That was enough to cancel the signing of the circle. 

The Student Activities Board and CBS tried to reschedule the #PaintItBlack signing of 2024 for that spring semester. Mutual communication and scheduling errors between organizers prevented a successful postponement, according to Walls.

It is now September. Drake students are wondering: will CBS reschedule the #PaintItBlack signing of 2024 for this fall semester?   

Walls says it will not. 

The coalition’s intention for last spring’s event was for Coleman and Guein to sign the circle first.

“They had to go back home, and now they’re all in their jobs and tied down, so it’s going to be pretty hard to get them back to Drake to sign their names,” Walls said.

Plus, if CBS rescheduled the signing for this fall semester, the graduating class who attended last spring’s commemoration wouldn’t be able to participate.

The executive board of CBS has made its decision. Now, it’s focusing on the school year at hand. 

CBS has five initiatives for the 2024-25 school year: health and wellness, community service, academics, information and community outreach. 

This year, students can break a sweat at one of the coalition’s pilates classes. They may see CBS transporting leftovers from Hubbell Dining Hall to communities in need. Also, students can take advantage of academic support and informative discussions that CBS will host. Later this year, students will be able to support local Black-owned businesses through the coalition. 

Walls wants students to know that all are welcome at each of CBS’s events. 

“I prefer when it’s a group of different types of people because, like I said, you can learn from people,” Walls said. 

On Sept. 20, in collaboration with La Fuerza Latina, CBS will host a cookout. The location will be posted at @drake_cbs on Instagram. 

As far as plans go for #PaintItBlack 2025, Walls said CBS intends to host a traditional signing of the circle — so long as Mother Nature cooperates.