Most NC State students are familiar with the eye-catching Free Expression Tunnel, but not all of them agree on the proper etiquette for painting on the walls. Students have been painting in it for years as a way to communicate about events on and off campus and as a means for conveying personal thoughts and opinions.
The Free Expression Tunnel is the most heavily used pedestrian bridge at State as it connects the main and east campuses. Students use the tunnel to get to class, see what’s going on in the brickyard or travel to Hillsborough Street.
The tunnel is a part of campus with heavy foot traffic and makes the perfect place for students, campus organizations, clubs, sororities and fraternities to advertise about meetings, events and what’s happening around NC State.
Constructed in 1939 as a Public Works Administration project, the Free Expression Tunnel didn’t get its first coat of paint until 1968 when it was painted red and white in honor of the military veterans of North Carolina, according to the NCSU Free Expression Tunnel Facebook page. The tunnel was closed for repairs during the spring 2005-2006 semester, and was rededicated that winter with a plaque posted outside of the tunnel walls.
The Free Expression Tunnel is not managed by any one individual or committee; the students of NC State are given creative freedom in the tunnel to do as they please. The tunnel is always changing as students and members of the community contribute to its walls. For the most part, the students are the ones in charge of what they paint inside the tunnel.
“The appropriate time to paint the tunnel is late at night when there are few people there,” said Amanda Scott, a sophomore in animal science. “If you start painting and classes are still going and people are going to dinner, it gets really obnoxious. The Free Expression Tunnel should remain free as long as the content isn’t trying to offend people. It’s alright to put up pride paintings and such, but don’t bash other people’s beliefs or rights, and it should be okay to paint over something after a week.”
When a great amount of effort goes into a piece of art or a mural, students usually wait a few days to a week to paint over it. The Arnold Air Society painted the Free Expression Tunnel before fall break to honor prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action; a mural they paint every year, according to the Free Expression Tunnel Facebook page.
Though the tunnel is intended for NC State students to use, campus outsiders pay it a visit from time to time. Professional painters, Raleigh artists and even hired painting crews have visited it in order to advertise for clubs, bars or events happening around Raleigh students may be interested in.
Opposing sports teams will sometimes paint the tunnel in their school’s colors either before or after a big game as a prank. UNC-Chapel Hill students usually paint the Free Expression Tunnel Carolina blue around big games, and NC State students then try to quickly repaint it red and white soon after.
There is no censoring in the Free Expression Tunnel, but students are encouraged to be respectful of others.
“There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to paint the tunnel,” said Tianna Soto, a junior in psychology. “However, it makes me sad to see offensive things occasionally written in the tunnel. Our university supports diversity and creativity, but in my opinion, students should be mindful — there shouldn’t be negative or highly offensive words/images in the space.”
