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Underneath Arkansas State University exists a vast network of tunnels, branching across the historical center of the school. This report covers nearly one kilometer of tunnels – some in use, some sealed, and some demolished. They were almost certainly entirely sealed prior to President Bill Clinton's April 3rd, 1995 visit to ASU[1]. Some portions have since been re-opened to accommodate modern fiber internet and cable television networks; these active tunnels are laid out in the map, Campus Utilities (2018). From all gathered research, it is likely that all building access points have been permanently sealed, leaving only ground-level access through hatches and manholes. Details of the tunnels not on this current map are corroborated from personal accounts, building construction documents, and additional deductive analysis.
For decades, these tunnels have been covertly explored by curious students. This act, known by some as tunneling, carries risk of serious repercussions (ASU Tunnel System, 2014). In the article by Paine (2011), she states that “[i]f a student were to be caught in the tunnel, they would be reported to student conduct,” and that they would be “subject to punishment through an informal case resolution or formal conduct hearing.”
According to Paul Allen Rice[2] (n.d.) and droog[3] (2010), the tunnel system is best accessed through a metal hatch at the northeast corner of the Dean B. Ellis library; Rice described a locking mechanism on the hatch whereas droog states it can simply be opened with one’s hands. Upon visual inspection, the condition of this hatch is unknown. According to droog (2010), the best exit point is a metal hatch located in the library’s outdoor break area on its north side. There are other surviving access points which may be used to access the tunnels, but these are recommended. Topix user, LXA-84-87[4], recounts himself and other fraternity members using the access points near “in the sidewalk next to the computer lab,” (ASU Tunnel System? 2014) in the mid to late eighties; the Computer Services center, which housed the student computer lab, stood between Computer Science & Mathematics and the Library and has since been demolished (Campus Map, 1997).
[1] President Clinton is the only U.S. President to have visited ASU
[2] Paul Rice was a student at ASU from 1983-1987; his exploration occurred around 1986
[3] Underground Ozarks user, droog, most likely explored the tunnels around 2010
[4] This username is likely a reference to the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and their years as a student at ASU
For decades, these tunnels have been covertly explored by curious students. This act, known by some as tunneling, carries risk of serious repercussions (ASU Tunnel System, 2014). In the article by Paine (2011), she states that “[i]f a student were to be caught in the tunnel, they would be reported to student conduct,” and that they would be “subject to punishment through an informal case resolution or formal conduct hearing.”
According to Paul Allen Rice[2] (n.d.) and droog[3] (2010), the tunnel system is best accessed through a metal hatch at the northeast corner of the Dean B. Ellis library; Rice described a locking mechanism on the hatch whereas droog states it can simply be opened with one’s hands. Upon visual inspection, the condition of this hatch is unknown. According to droog (2010), the best exit point is a metal hatch located in the library’s outdoor break area on its north side. There are other surviving access points which may be used to access the tunnels, but these are recommended. Topix user, LXA-84-87[4], recounts himself and other fraternity members using the access points near “in the sidewalk next to the computer lab,” (ASU Tunnel System? 2014) in the mid to late eighties; the Computer Services center, which housed the student computer lab, stood between Computer Science & Mathematics and the Library and has since been demolished (Campus Map, 1997).
[1] President Clinton is the only U.S. President to have visited ASU
[2] Paul Rice was a student at ASU from 1983-1987; his exploration occurred around 1986
[3] Underground Ozarks user, droog, most likely explored the tunnels around 2010
[4] This username is likely a reference to the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and their years as a student at ASU