N.C. State students Catheryn Moody and Jordan Washington came up with their own response to the recent Free Expression Tunnel controversy. On Wednesday night, the pair spearheaded “Paint Me As I Am,” an event designed to spread images that promoted positivity.

“Basically, a lot of people were complaining about the blackout conforming to one color; why not combat the controversy with nice pictures? We want to fight images of hate with images of love,” Moody, a junior in English and creative writing, said.

The event was advertised on Facebook and through campus fliers.  More than 100 people confirmed on Facebook that they would attend the event.

“If more people end up coming, we want to cover as much of the tunnel as possible.  I’ll stay out here until I run out of paint I guess,” Moody said.

The original controversy surrounding the Free Expression Tunnel started last week, after some racist comments were painted in the tunnel.  A group of students blocked the tunnel in protest of the negative artwork.

“I’m all for protest of any kind because speaking your mind is important.  Especially here, when we all live and work in the same place all of the time,” Washington, a junior in engineering, said.  “I do feel like there’s a difference between awareness and stopping people from what they’re doing.  That doesn’t make people want to follow you.”

There has been debate on campus about whether or not the Free Expression Tunnel should be closed down entirely. 

“One of the things about the tunnel is that it expresses what people are feeling.  Sometimes I walk though it and see really awesome artwork, other times I am disappointed by negative messages.  Either way, it makes me feel something,” Washington said.

This is not the first time the Free Expression Tunnel has caused controversy; when President Obama was first elected president, negative graffiti about him was painted in the tunnel. 

“This tunnel is something awesome that we have and get to enjoy that a lot of other universities don’t have.  With great things like that comes responsibility, so it’s important that people realize that,” Washington said.

Moody believes the tunnel should remain open.

“The whole point of this tunnel is to give someone an outlet for expression.  Better to paint a negative thought on a wall then to turn to something worse,” Moody said.