N.C. State’s Free Expression Tunnel has been in the news too much the past several months. The two incidents most discussed have been the racial hate speech the night of the Presidential Election and the defacing of a tribute to basketball legend Kay Yow the night of the State-Carolina home basketball game. Both actions were truly reprehensible.

In the first case, I have seen the detailed pictures of the hate statements made against President Obama as a viper nested between a brick column with KKK written on one side and a Confederate flag on the other. As a son of the South, I was ashamed.

I was also angered, attending several student discussions on the matter, but feeling both students and the Student Senate handled the situation well. I also spoke with our N.C. State Administration and N.C. NAACP President William Barber, who both wrestled with what could and what should be done. Finally, I wrote the UNC Hate Crime Study Commission with personal comments and recommendations.

In the second case, I am deeply saddened by whoever defaced the artistic tribute to coach Kay Yow. She was a wonderful friend and as fine a representative of N.C. State University, and humanity in general, as we have ever had.

These two incidents call into question the very existence of the Free Expression Tunnel. I am familiar with the tunnel from college days of going back and forth between classes and playing sports at Reynolds Coliseum and Riddick Stadium. I know its origins from the Vietnam war and the Civil Rights movements. I kid our current students about not getting trapped in the curse of having a 22-year-old-mind trapped in 72-year-old body, or vice versa.

So what should be done with the Free Expression Tunnel? I believe it should stay as an expression of free people. I also believe that anyone wishing to make a statement should be willing to sign their name to it. Or if caught on “tape” doing or saying something destructive, they should be made known. In particular, the four students who participated in the hate speech should voluntarily come forward and ask forgiveness. I understand the University cannot release their names, and I believe the “anonymous apology” they made is worse than no apology at all. Their courage is needed.

Herein lays the rub of the Free Expression Tunnel. Free speech must be responsible speech, but the only way for it to be responsible is for the author to take responsibility. I post about N.C. State sports quite a bit on the Internet and am truly bothered by people who make all kinds of accusations, rumors, or negative statements hiding behind an anonymous handle. The same is true for the Free Expression Tunnel.

It has to be free enough to allow full expression from a range of disagreeable speech to inspired tributes, but it also must require accountability and responsibility from those who participate. If it needs to be said, SIGN YOUR NAME!