Free Expression Tunnel

Last updated

The Free Expression Tunnel on April 12, 2007 Freeexpressiontunnel-ncsu.jpg
The Free Expression Tunnel on April 12, 2007

The Free Expression Tunnel is the longest, widest, and most heavily used pedestrian tunnel under the railroad tracks at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina (also goes under Yarbrough Drive). The special aspect of the tunnel is that anyone is permitted to decorate its walls, ceiling, and floor. The tunnel connects NCSU's North Campus with the Central Campus and provides the most direct route from The Brickyard to the Central Campus residence halls. Clubs, fraternities, sororities, and other organizations often paint the tunnel to promote events and amateur artists paint to express themselves and to promote freedom of speech. A retaining wall just outside the tunnel's south entrance is also open for free expression. The "service tunnel" itself was constructed in 1939 as a Public Works Administration project. The tunnel was first painted in 1968 when it was painted red and white to celebrate the military veterans of North Carolina.

Contents

Free Expression Tunnel Free Expression Tunnel.JPG
Free Expression Tunnel

Fans of other universities' sports teams often come to the Free Expression Tunnel before and sometimes after big athletic events to paint the tunnel with their teams' athletic colors as part of a prank. Carolina Tar Heel fans have a long history of doing this prank as well as fans from East Carolina University. [1]

The tunnel is subject to flooding during massive torrential rains. Waters rose to a height of 60 inches after a storm in July 2003. [2]

For the Spring 2005-2006 semester, the Free Expression Tunnel was closed for repairs and the installation of handicap ramps. The tunnel reopened in the winter of 2006 with a re-dedication ceremony, which unveiled a new plaque at the tunnel's north entrance expressing the brief history of the tunnel and its purpose. Prior to the renovations, the space available for free expression was much larger at both ends. [3]

Stencil Clip 0001wmv

On November 5, 2008, racist, threatening graffiti directed at (then) President-elect Barack Obama was found in the tunnel. Because of the threats against Obama, the Secret Service was among those called to investigate. The four students responsible were identified, and admitted to the act, stating that it was protected by their First Amendment right to free speech; however the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP has called for their expulsion.

Since February 2010, there has been an ongoing tradition of a weekly freestyle cipher, every Monday night at 10 pm. Local artists and students alike gather at the tunnel to freestyle, beatbox, sing, play instruments, recite poetry, and network. [4] [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina State University</span> Public university in Raleigh, North Carolina, US

North Carolina State University is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The university forms one of the corners of the Research Triangle together with Duke University in Durham and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</span> Public university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Chartered in 1789, the university first began enrolling students in 1795, making it one of the oldest public universities in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina A&T State University</span> Historically black university in Greensboro, North Carolina, US

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a public, historically black, land-grant research university in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System. Founded by the North Carolina General Assembly on March 9, 1891, as the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race, it was the second college established under the provisions of the Morrill Act of 1890, as well as the first for people of color in the State of North Carolina. Initially, the college offered instruction in agriculture, English, horticulture and mathematics. In 1967, the college was designated a Regional University by the North Carolina General Assembly and renamed North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bank of America Stadium</span> Soccer and Football stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, US

Bank of America Stadium is a 74,867-seat multi-purpose stadium located on 33 acres (13 ha) in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is the home facility and headquarters of the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League and Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer. The stadium opened in 1996 as Ericsson Stadium, with Swedish telecom company LM Ericsson initially holding the naming rights. In 2004, Charlotte-based financial services company Bank of America purchased the naming rights under a 20-25-year agreement at $140 million. Former Panthers president Danny Morrison called it a "classic American stadium" due to its bowl design and other features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carter–Finley Stadium</span> Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina

Wayne Day Family Field at Carter–Finley Stadium is a sports venue in Raleigh, North Carolina. Home to the NC State Wolfpack football team, it opened in 1966 and has a current seating capacity of 56,919 seats.

TheWolfWeb, also known as TWW or T-dub, is an unofficial message board for North Carolina State University (NCSU), created by Jacob Morgan (CrazyJ). TWW was the prototype for the "party in college" message boards, which provide an online community for a number of universities across the country. It was also a source of the codebase for TheCollegeWeb but is not part of that network despite the similarity of all of those sites to TWW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riddick Stadium</span> Football stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, US

Riddick Stadium was a college football stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, and home to the North Carolina State University Wolfpack football team. When the stadium was first opened, it was referred to as New Athletic Park. Later it was named Riddick Field and then Riddick Stadium, after W. C. Riddick, N.C. State football coach during the 1898 and 1899 seasons. The Wolfpack baseball team also played its home games in the stadium prior to moving to Doak Field.

Bruce Poulton was the tenth chancellor of North Carolina State University from 1982 to 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NC State Wolfpack</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of North Carolina State University

The NC State Wolfpack is the nickname of the athletic teams representing North Carolina State University. The Wolfpack competes at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for all sports since the 1953–54 season. The athletic teams of the Wolfpack compete in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports. NC State is a founding member of the ACC and has won eleven national championships: five NCAA championships, two AIAW championships, and four titles under other sanctioning bodies. Most NC State fans and athletes recognize the rivalry with the North Carolina Tar Heels as their biggest.

The North Carolina–NC State rivalry, also known as the State-Carolina game, Carolina–State Game, North Carolina–NC State game, NCSU–UNC game, and other similar permutations, is an ongoing series of athletic competitions between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels and North Carolina State University Wolfpack. The intensity of the game is driven by the universities' similar sizes, the fact the schools are separated by only 25 miles, and the large number of alumni that live within the state's borders. Both are charter members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and are part of the Tobacco Road schools. The most popular games between the two are in football, basketball, and baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NC State Wolfpack football</span> College Football Bowl Subdivision team; member of Atlantic Coast Conference

The NC State Wolfpack football team represents North Carolina State University in the sport of American football. The Wolfpack competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Prior to joining the ACC in 1953, the Wolfpack were a member of the Southern Conference. As a founding member of the ACC, the Wolfpack has won seven conference championships and participated in 34 bowl games, of which the team has won 17. NC State is coached by Dave Doeren.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Campus of North Carolina State University</span> University campus in Raleigh, North Carolina, US

The Main Campus is the primary campus of North Carolina State University, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, US, inside the Beltline. Notable features of Main Campus include the Bell Tower and D. H. Hill Library. The campus is known for its distinctive red brick buildings, sidewalks, plazas, and sculptures; some are dotted with decorative brick mosaics. University Plaza is nicknamed "The Brickyard" because it is mostly a flat, open, bricked area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Brickyard (NC State)</span>

University Plaza, or more commonly The Brickyard, is a public plaza at the heart of North Carolina State University's North Campus in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is the university's most active court and has been the site of numerous special events, including concerts, memorials, campaign rallies and political protests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillsborough Street</span>

Hillsborough Street is a business and cultural thoroughfare through Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. The street serves as a center for social life among North Carolina State University and Meredith College students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile Bowl</span> American college football rivalry

The Textile Bowl is the name given to the Clemson–NC State football rivalry. It is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Clemson Tigers football team of Clemson University and the NC State Wolfpack football team of North Carolina State University.

Daniel Lee Harrigan is an American former competitive swimmer for North Carolina State University and a 1976 Montreal Olympic bronze medalist in the 200-meter backstroke. At the 1975 Pan American Games he won the 200 m backstroke event, but also contracted hepatitis and had to stop training for several months, managing to recover by the 1976 Olympics where he medaled in the event. He would later have a career as an architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina A&T–North Carolina Central rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The North Carolina A&T–North Carolina Central rivalry is an ongoing series of athletic competitions between North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and North Carolina Central University, both of which are located in North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina A&T–Winston-Salem State rivalry</span> American college football rivalries

The North Carolina A&T–Winston-Salem State rivalry was a series of athletic competitions between historic rivals North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Winston-Salem State University, both of which are located in the state of North Carolina. The intensity of the rivalry is driven by the proximity of the two schools, as both are only 30 miles apart via U.S. Interstate 40; the size of the two schools, as North Carolina A&T is the largest Historically Black College and University in the state and Winston-Salem State is the third largest; coaching personnel, and conference alignments, as both schools at one time were both members of either the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) or the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Although a less intense and bitter rivalry than that shared between North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central University, both A&T and WSSU fans placed great emphasis on this rivalry.

The NC State–Wake Forest rivalry is a series of athletic contests between in-state rivals, the North Carolina State University Wolfpack and the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons. The first game was played in 1895 between the two institutions. Wake Forest was originally located in Wake Forest, North Carolina until it moved its campus across the state of North Carolina to Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1956. The two universities are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, where they meet every year in football due to being aligned in the Atlantic Division. The schools play each other twice in basketball every season, due to being primary partners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dail Soccer Field</span>

The Dail Soccer Field is the on-campus soccer stadium at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.

References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20110722133929/http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/190/68912442457967521722972.jpg. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2010.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "Photo Essay of Free Expression Tunnel". Archived from the original on August 23, 2004. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  3. "Free Expression Tunnel Open". May 5, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2007.
  4. "Racist graffiti found in NCSU tunnel". Archived from the original on November 8, 2008.
  5. "Higher Education news". News Observer.