By Kshipra Hemal

Pine Whispers

Spirit rocks painted a thousand times over grace the lawns of thousands of high schools across the nation. Often more paint than rock, they add character to the school by serving as a venue for free expression.

With its long and rich past, Reynolds High School would be an optimal spot for a free-expression site. Even better is the fact that Reynolds unwittingly possesses an alternative to the commonplace spirit rock: the tunnel.

Not only would having a free-expression tunnel set us apart from other schools, it would also be the perfect embodiment of our Arts Magnet program. As an Arts Magnet school, we ought to encourage any and all types of art – be it in a formal class setting or outside of it. Perhaps art classes could venture to the tunnel that connects the main campus to the gymnasiums and display their ideas on the otherwise lackluster walls. This would give art students an opportunity to practice art outside of the norm.

However, a free-expression tunnel should by no means be confined to the arts organizations. All students, clubs, organizations and sport teams would have the right to express their ideas. If Reynolds were to establish such a tunnel, it would be in good company. N.C. State University, Duke, Appalachian State and others all have free expression tunnels.

Opponents to a free-expression tunnel might be wary because they believe it would engender harmful or offensive speech. Offensive and harmful are subjective terms. If you don’t like something, you could ignore it, respond to it, or paint over it yourself. Sure, the school could dole out a policy that restricts offensive language and reserves the administration’s right to determine what is offensive. But such restrictions would violate the basis of free expression.

On the other hand, if the administration were to encourage students to take advantage of the opportunity to spray-paint the tunnel – essentially, refrain from being strict – students would take notice. They would stick to Reynolds tradition and stay classy.
Opponents of this tunnel also could fuel their argument with another example: the NCSU free expression tunnel was involved in controversy during the 2008 election, when racist graffiti involving President Barack Obama was painted on the walls. This illustrates the inevitable controversy that will follow if such a tunnel is established at Reynolds.

Comments made in bad taste will be present anywhere there is an opportunity for free expression. The key is resiliency – in this case, painting over those noxious remarks while keeping in mind that free expression is still a worthy idea.

The students at Reynolds are fully capable of withstanding the shock of crude speech. This is the only way to protect free expression, by staying true to its doctrine: the ability to air thoughts openly.

And who knows what will come of it? It could be everything, from advertising to thoughtful notes to pictures to mindless chatter to hate-filled rants from other high schools. Whether or not these expressions have socially redeemable value is a matter of individual perception; these expressions are still constitutionally protected anonymous speech.

This free exchange of ideas on campus would benefit the Reynolds community and contribute diversity in a marketplace of ideas that is essential to one’s educational experience.