Free Expression Tunnel defaced

SG, students respond to repaint the tunnel

Staff Writer

Published: Saturday, January 31, 2009

Updated: Monday, February 2, 2009 01:02

David Prescott, freshman in aerospace engineering, Donald Mayo, a freshman in mechanical engineering, and Ahren Lieth, a freshman in aerospace engineering, look at the graffiti that was put on the Free Expression Tunnel after the N.C. State and North Carolina basketball game Saturday afternoon. Photo by James Cox

At 3:30 Sunday morning, Student Body President Jay Dawkins and Student Senate President Pro Tempore Kelli Rogers began to repaint sections of the Free Expression Tunnel after a UNC fan painted remarks about cancer in the tunnel.

The mural of Coach Kay Yow on the tunnel was defaced with a light blue mustache and several phrases were painted on the tunnel wall, including
"Cancer rules, f*** pink, fall forward k-o and life could be worse you could be a cancer patient."

Students were disgusted by the writings.

Sam Thomas, a sophomore in computer science, said he didn't have words to describe his emotions.

"This was totally uncalled for," he said.

Dawkins said the painting of the memorial was hurtful.

Rogers said she couldn't tell if the author was an actual Carolina student, but the writer was a North Carolina fan.

However, Dawkins, a junior in engineering, said the acts are not representative of the entire UNC campus or fan base, but did say the actions were completely uncalled for.

"The people who said these things have no class. We should encourage rivalry, but above all we are all students and people," he said.

Thomas doesn't think that the authors felt the same way.

"This just hits home, it's more than racist," he said.

Dawkins said the actions were a result of rivalry that got out of hand.

"What was said was in many ways inhuman. While rivalry is great, this just went too far," he said.

Rogers, a junior in political science, didn't realize how difficult it was to make the Yow mural until she had to do repairs to it, saying the people who did it the first time were amazing.

"I really wish I could make it look as pretty as it did before. It frustrates me some idiot had to mess it up," Rogers said.

The nature of the Free Expression Tunnel, Rogers said, is for students to express their opinions but she wished things like this didn't happen.

"There is always going to be a jerk who comes through here and write[s] offensive material," she said.

Both Dawkins and Rogers advised students to do the same thing they were doing -- paint over the offensive material with material they want to see.

The remarks written about Yow in the tunnel touched many personally on campus.

"Everyone knows someone with cancer, I myself have seen my sister fight it twice. Seeing 'cancer rules' really hits close to home," Dawkins said.

Throughout the repainting, students came to help after hearing the news.

"I'm glad to see N.C. State students protecting the Free Expression Tunnel by painting over stuff they don't like," Rogers said.

Captain John Barnwell of Campus Police declined comment, saying issues relating to the Free Expression Tunnel are a "University issue."

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Brad Moffitt

Mon Feb 9 2009 17:21

I can truly not believe that someone would have the kahunas to compare the defacing of the Old Well and the defacing of a memorial to a fallen HERO. Then, to turn and point the finger at the Technician staff on there inability to remain unbiased in such an emotional time is unnecessary. The Technician staff has handled this situation with respect and dignity. I guess you are just of a different breed; one that can manage to stick their nose just a bit higher than our Technician staff. For that, I sarcastically applaud. For you to feel that you need to make Carolina look better than NC State over this incident shows just as much disrespect as the person who defaced the memorial.

If it looks like a chicken, smells like a chicken then it probably is a chicken, that is why accusations were made. I understand that individuals at Carolina do not wish to have the finger pointed in their direction just as I would not like the the finger to be pointed at NC State. There is no universal assumption made that all UNC students and fans are as idiotic as the individual that participated in the vandalism. As I said before, it is not the affiliation to a school or group of people that made this a headline. It is a matter of the disrespect that an individual has to someone who has gone through so much in her twenty year battle with cancer.

Kay Yow is more than a NC State basketball coach. Her affiliation with NC State does not define her. She is a role model, a teacher, a fighter and a great woman. One who should be admired by all for the fight that she gave breast cancer. That is why this is such a tragedy, not because she wore red and white. Honor her for the person she is, not her accomplishments associated with NC State.

And to you Lauren. Look at the bigger picture. No one cares if the Daily Tar Heel accused NC State of the defacing of the Old Well. The fact that you felt it was appropriate to mention that in response this situation is ridiculous. This is not a time to determine which school is better, this is a time to honor a HERO to all (not just NC State) that touched the lives of so many throughout her time on Earth. I am sure that I speak for all when I say that this is not a time for rivalry and competition, but rather a time for collaboration to show the deserved respect for Coach Kay Yow.

Brad Moffitt

Thu Feb 5 2009 21:07

Frankly I do not care if the person went to Carolina, Duke, or NC State. It isn't a matter that needs proof. It is a matter that shows how little class and respect that some individuals have for others. Whether the individual was associated with my most hated rival or if he/she was my biological bother, my opinion on their actions is unwavering. The disrespect shown in the free expression to Coach Yow is enough proof to make the individual that did it an enemy to all. To the individual that participated in these antics I have one remark, “Karma is a ......."

Francis Bailey

Wed Feb 4 2009 09:24

My wife and her daughter has been through breast cancer. When my wife heard about this uncalled for action, she was very up set about it. Her comment and reaction to this. Was to find the party responsable, and exspell the from the entire UNC System.

Lauren Atencio

Tue Feb 3 2009 13:11

I am a UNC student and I'd like to begin by saying I am sorry for the loss of your coach. Kay Yow was a remarkable woman and she will be missed by all.

I also don't blame NC State students for suspecting that a UNC student or fan was responsible for the repugnant acts of vandalism that occurred in your Freedom of Expression Tunnel. When we in Chapel Hill woke on the morning of the UNC vs. NC State game and found that our Old Well had been defaced with red paint, I doubt you would find a single student who doubted that the vandalism was committed by a State student or fan.

I would like to point out, however, that the article printed in our campus publication, the Daily Tar Heel, did not in any way presume the guilt of anyone associated with NC State. Our paper merely reported the incident and the fact that many UNC students suspected NC State of the act; the paper never reported said suspicion as FACT. The DTH even went so far as to contact the NC State student body president at the time and allow him to comment on the vandalism. The following link will take you to the DTH article and I welcome everyone to read it and compare it to the article on this page.

http://www.dailytarheel.com/2.1383/1.156879

The first sentence of this Technician article implies the guilt of someone associated with our campus but gives no evidence to support this assertion. I understand that tempers are running high in Raleigh right now just as they were in Chapel Hill a year ago, but that doesn't negate your publication's duty to responsible and professional journalism.

I can only hope that the student body at NC State will hold their paper to a higher standard and request that the Technician issue a retraction or correction just we would at Carolina.

Caleb Lloyd

Tue Feb 3 2009 08:46

I am guessing that the proof would be the Carolina blue paint, the visible phrase stating "Fells sucks", and the fact that it occurred right after the game. It makes me sick to think that somebody could do this and feel justified. Jay you are the man for making things right here at NCSU!

Thomas Duke

Mon Feb 2 2009 09:08

As a student who helped defend the Free Expression Tunnel last week before the UNC game - this is sad commentary....

John Johnson

Mon Feb 2 2009 00:42

I am curious where the proof is that a Carolina student or fan did this. Or is this sheer speculation?

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