It's called 'Free Expression': NCSU in dangerous territory with tunnel restrictions

The racist threats written in the N.C. State University Free Expression Tunnel last November were a sad display of poor judgement.

But NCSU Chancellor James L. Oblinger's decision to accept all the recommendations from a ""campus culture task force"" appointed after the incident is an unfortunate overreaction.

Some of the recommendations make sense"" like improvements to the tunnel's lighting system to increase safety.

And students will probably be less inclined to commit such despicable acts without the anonymous cover of darkness.

But some of the proposed changes cause serious concern.

The task force recommended that the Student Code of Conduct add harsher punishments for ""violations motivated by hate against protected groups.""

N.C. State should think twice about such measures.

The U.S. Supreme Court says public bodies cannot impose ""special prohibitions on those speakers who express views on the disfavored subjects of ‘race" color creed" religion or gender.'""

Last week Chancellor Oblinger wrote"" ""The North Carolina State University campus has clearly demonstrated that while we support free speech"" we have a standard for uses of free speech.""

This statement flies in the face of the First Amendment. Speech held to a specific standard is by definition not free.

Of course" N.C. State's reaction to offensive graffiti in its Free Expression Tunnel is understandable.

As reprehensible as hateful speech is it clearly falls under the protection of the First Amendment" particularly in a ""Free Expression"" zone.

We ought to be glad this is the case. Because while free speech isn't always pretty" it is certainly preferable to the alternative.

Instead of seeking to punish those who abuse the Free Expression Tunnel the University should let its students promptly paint over hateful messages as they have in the past.

That encourages more speech not less.