Photo of President Diacon and Provost Tankersley at the rock

The Rock at Kent State: What You Should Know

For more than 100 years, The Rock has been one of Kent State’s most recognizable traditions, and one of its most colorful. Located on Front Campus, this seven-ton boulder has served as a canvas for generations of students to celebrate, advocate, and share what matters most to them.

Think of it as a living message board, one that changes (sometimes daily!) and reflects the voices of the Kent State community.

The Rock is open for expression and shared by the Kent State community. These community practices help keep the tradition fair, safe, welcoming, and respectful for everyone.

What's Not Allowed

Please don’t guard The Rock or prevent others from painting it. The Rock is a shared campus space, and everyone should have the same opportunity to participate.
Participation should always be voluntary. Please don’t require members or potential members of a student organization to take part in painting The Rock.
Help preserve The Rock by using paint only. Please don’t alter its size, shape, orientation, or structure in any way.
Please don’t build or place structures around The Rock to paint it.
Please keep vehicles off the grassy area and sidewalks around The Rock.
Keep messages appropriate for a shared campus space. Messages may not include obscene material, including content that depicts or describes sexual conduct in a clearly offensive way and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
- Messages may not be discriminatory or harassing.
- Messages may not encourage harm, threats, or illegal activity.

If guidelines aren’t followed, the university may paint over the Rock or take further action.

Key Expectations

Paint the whole Rock so each message has its own clear space. Please don’t add comments to someone else’s message or paint only part of The Rock.
While not a requirement, we encourage community members to allow up to 24 hours for an existing message to be viewed before adding a new one whenever circumstances permit.
Consider adding the date and time to your work so others know when the message was painted.
Clean up after yourself and leave the area as you found it so the space stays welcoming for everyone.

What if a Message on the Rock is Concerning to Me?

Because The Rock is a space for open expression, you may sometimes see a message that feels upsetting, offensive, or concerning. If that happens, here are a few steps you can take:

Pause and assess

Take a moment to consider whether the message may violate university policy, such as a message that is threatening, discriminatory, or encourages harm.
If you are unsure or need support, reach out to a campus resource, such as:

The university may remove or paint over messages that violate policy.

Some messages may not reflect your views, and that can be challenging. The Rock is meant to be a place where different perspectives appear, and where the community can respond thoughtfully.

Respond constructively

One way students often respond is by painting The Rock with a new message of their own.
Students often use The Rock to respond with support, solidarity, encouragement, or education.

Take care of yourself

It’s okay to step away, take a breath, and talk with someone you trust, such as a friend, advisor, or campus support service, if a message feels heavy or personal.
Take advantage of the health & wellbeing resources:

Freedom of Expression and The Rock

The Rock is more than a campus tradition. It is one way Kent State students can share ideas, show support, express concerns, celebrate community, and take part in the university’s commitment to freedom of expression.

Learn more about Kent State’s free speech policy

Kent State supports open expression and the exchange of ideas, including ideas people may see differently or disagree with.
For generations, students have used The Rock to lift up campus events, respond to important issues, honor moments that matter, and make their voices visible.
Each new message becomes part of an ongoing campus conversation, one shaped by creativity, care, and respect for the broader community.

What this means in practice

You are welcome to use The Rock to express ideas, celebrate what matters to you, or help others feel seen and supported.
Others have that same opportunity, even when their message or perspective is different from yours.
University guidelines for time, place, and manner help keep The Rock safe, accessible, and available for everyone to use.

Why it matters

The Rock works best when students use it thoughtfully. Every layer of paint is a chance to express yourself, listen to others, and add to a campus tradition that reflects the many voices of Kent State.

The Rock is a snapshot of Kent State, constantly evolving with each new layer of paint. Whether you’re sharing a message, starting a conversation, or just walking by, you’re part of its story.