Check out some direct thoughts on this topic from our youth community:

“Well, I feel okay about campus advertising.  It doesn't really bother me because I mean, the world is already surrounded by advertising (in every form. tv, print, billboards) so

a) I’m used to it

b) University campuses aren't some kind of sanctuary that shouldn't get advertising.  The advertisements in the washrooms give us something to look at and I honestly don't feel invaded or whatever by them.  I even like getting the freebies sometimes handed out on campus as advertising, and really, what better market is there than a school of 60,000 people with purchasing power ?!”

“While I am not a radical who would deface or boycott on-campus ads, I am concerned about the future of on-campus corporate advertising. I'm comfortable with the current level of involvement - ads in washrooms, sponsorship for events, contracted service providing - but I want to be assured that my acceptance level is not straining the floodgates. Current involvement is mostly superficial.  Advertisers risk alienating themselves from the university market when students begin to feel that decisions are being made not for their educational benefit but for the making of a buck.”

“Generally speaking, I don’t have a problem with campus advertising, but I do have a problem with corporate influence. In my opinion there is a very clear point at which the university starts giving up control, or makes concessions at which point the relationship no longer becomes appropriate. For example, I have no problem with the Zoom ads on U of T campus, because they provide a form of revenue in exchange for some posters in the washrooms. The students really don’t lose anything from this. However, I do have a problem with deals the universities make (i.e.: York with Pepsi), where the students choice is affected.”

“Corporate advertising allows more funds to be put in the Universities pockets.  This allows the university to fund other projects in addition to those they would normally be able to.”

“I believe that campus advertising is acceptable, provided it adheres to the following rules:

• all revenue made by the university goes *directly* into student programs, *especially* tuition reduction;
• advertisers must be responsible, in terms of subject matter and design of their posters;
• only companies that promote positive student life should be considered. (i.e., no tobacco, beer, alcohol ads).

"It's easy enough to ignore advertising, and as a student I'd be happy to see measures that keep the cost of education down.”