University administrators and student leaders gathered Friday afternoon to hear concerns about the Free Expression Tunnel.
Following last Sunday’s offensive painting in the Free Expression Tunnel, Chancellor Randy Woodson sent a letter out to the student body on Monday. Wednesday night, a group of students gathered, painted the tunnel black, and blocked the tunnel in protest of the Sunday night painting and Woodson’s response to the painting.
According to Woodson, the message in the tunnel was intended to harm members of the campus community.
“A message to the community should be presented in a responsible and respectful way,” Woodson said.
A student at the meeting thanked Woodson for the letter of Monday, but Woodson said the controversy won’t end at this point.
“This isn’t the end of the discussion,” Woodson said. “We’ve got to work out what to do from here.”
According to another student at the meeting, the question of how long it will be before physical violence is rising among the student body.
The student also suggested the name of the Free Expression Tunnel be changed to the “expression tunnel,” with students required to obtain approval for writings in the tunnel prior to painting.
Demi Olubanwl, a senior in communications media, questioned the existence of the Free Expression Tunnel.
“Why do we need the Free Expression Tunnel,” Olubanwl said. “The answer has to come from the community, not the chancellor.”
According to Woodson, the attendees of the emergency meeting came because of their interest in the situation.
“You have all come here today because you are passionate,” Woodson said. “How do you broaden the discussion to scholarly discourse?”
According to administration at the meeting, after a different Free Expression Tunnel incident in 2008, the University created a values and ethics advisory council at the University level.
Woodson also explained his reasoning for moving student affairs to be under the provost instead of under him.
“Student affairs talks to the provost directly,” Woodson said.
According to Woodson, because of this move, student affairs and the provost has more access to diversity resources. The diversity lecture series is a nationally renowned series.
According to Woodson and other University officials, the University is considering redoing general education requirements to include a diversity course.
