The Rock (University of Tennessee)
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 The Rock on September 16th, 2024 | |
| Location | University of Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°57′5″N 83°55′51″W / 35.95139°N 83.93083°W |
| Type | Megalithic |
| Material | Stone |
| Weight | 97.5 ton[1] |
| Opening date | 1980s[1] |
The Rock is a large dolomite boulder on the Knoxville campus of the University of Tennessee.[2] It is a prominent part of student life and campus culture, and is often painted with murals or political messages, including paintings of mascots, coaches, and protest artwork for various causes.[1]
The Rock was originally unearthed in 1966 during construction work on the lawn of former Calvary Baptist Church, current location of the Fraternity Park.[1]
The tradition of painting the boulder began in the early 1980s, and after a brief attempt to keep it graffiti free, the university administration decided in 1982 to cease the removal of graffiti unless it was considered offensive. This prompted a discussion surrounding the freedom of speech implications of selectively removing messages. The university decided to depend on the student body to regulate the appearance of the Rock, a policy which has been in place since.[3]
In 2009, it was moved from its original location to the lawn of the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center to make room for an expansion of the Student Health Center, a distance of about 275 feet. The relocation involved a specialized flatbed truck, and took more than 13 hours.[4]
