Click the map for a larger version.

The freedom to have a tunnel map

Jenny Hansson Daily Staff

(Quoted from the archives at The University of Washington Daily.)

Dirt, bugs and old gum are not the only objects lurking beneath your feet when you walk across Red Square--there are also underground utility tunnels large enough to hold teams of horses.

"Most people don't want to go down there," said Burt Johnson of the campus Physical Plant Department. "They're hot, there's high pressure and there's dangerous electrical objects."

As bad as this environment sounds, Community for Creative Chaos, an off-campus group, is selling maps of these tunnels to anyone who is interested.

John Hoffman, an active member in the group, explained that the group is demonstrating the power of the open records act by distributing these maps of the tunnels.

"People are amazed that you can get this kind of information just by asking for it," Hoffman said. "More than the map, it's the idea of the map. The point is to make people think about what's underground -- what's legal and what's not illegal."

However, what is illegal is attempting to enter the tunnels. Anyone who is caught in the tunnels is charged with criminal trespassing. Homeless citizens and Dungeons and Dragons fanatics are the most frequent visitors in these dark passages.

"It's really dangerous. Someone could be trapped down there for seven days because it's only checked weekly," said Sgt. Steven Robinson of the UW Police Department. "Years ago there was an electrician down there who burned himself severely."

Hoffman stated that he discourages anyone from committing an illegal act, and did not wish to comment when asked if he himself had actually ventured into the tunnel system. However, he did stress the importance of the maps.

"Maps are symbolic," he said. "You give someone a map and all of the sudden they're oriented. It's amazing what a map can do."

Hoffman also emphasized the power of the people.

"People assume that you have to go to court or be a lawyer to obtain these maps," he said. "Open records fire-power. It's funny how you can do something so little that causes so much attention."

With all of the dangers involved, it's questionable why people would even want to go into the tunnels. When asked this very question, Sgt. Robinson responded, "Why do people go to the moon?"

Hoffman was more enthusiastic, stating that the tunnels themselves are intriguing.

"It has been rumored that there're relics and saints down there. I've also heard that some guy who got trapped down there went insane," he said.

Hoffman said that Community for Creative Chaos is composed of friends and "women whom he has seduced." He teaches a class at the Experimental College once a quarter called "Obtaining Info through the Open Records Act."

For a copy of the underground tunnel map, send $1 postage and a large self-addressed envelope to Community for Creative Chaos, 4505 University Way NE #600, Seattle, WA 98105.