Tunnel to explore diversity issues

The upcoming Tunnel of Oppression, sponsored by Residence Services (RS) and Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS), is not a tunnel at all.

Instead, from Oct. 9-12 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., students will have the chance to see the realities of oppression in our society. The event takes place in the Student Union Apollo Room and is free and open to the public.

"Everybody in college campuses across the country understands how important diversity is. Not just knowledge of diversity, but being embracive of diversity, being a part of diversity, etcetera. This is an opportunity, a hands-on, interactive format to illustrate the importance of it," said Joe Berthiaume, Associate Director of RS.

Curtains enclose the tunnel on either side that "snake" around, and the curtains create little rooms, said Dr. Jeanene Robinson, a planning committee member and a psychologist at CWS. Each room is a different "ism": sexism, lookism, racism, classism and heterosexism, she said.

To explain each term, there are posters, newspaper clippings, audio tapes, video tapes and props.

At the end of the tunnel, Berthiame said CWS will be there to process the groups by asking what they thought and to challenge students to think about what they can do to make a difference.

Special invitations have been extended to UVC classes. Volunteers from RS, CWS and psychology majors will be on hand to answer questions or to talk to students not in a group, said Robinson.

"It needs to be done. Whenever you have any type of setting… that has a lot of different types of people, I think there is a chance for people to step on each other's toes, maybe not knowing(ly)," said Robinson, referring to issues of diversity.

Tunnel Tidbits What: Tunnel of Oppression, illustrates diversity issues including gender, race, sexuality and socioeconomic status, among others. When: Oct. 9-12 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m Where: Student Union Apollo Room The Tunnel of Oppression hours will be extended until 7 p.m. on Oct. 10-11. Amber Vlasnik, Director of the Women's Center, will have a special presentation on women's issues on Oct. 10 from 5-7 p.m. in the Apollo Room. John Rogers of University College will have a special presentation on race issues on Oct. 11, from 5-7 p.m. in the same place. The Tunnel of Oppression is sponsored by Residence Services and Counseling and Wellness Services. For more info, call Residence Services at 775-4177.

RS and other campus organizations have funded the Tunnel for the past five or six years, said Berthiaume. He also said the Tunnel was an idea that someone created after seeing a similar presentation at a different campus.

"Everyday you go across the campus, you interact with and are a part of diversity, so we want you to be comfortable with diversity, we want you to be accepting of diversity, we want you to understand and reach outside of your own comfort levels," said Berthiaume.

A planning committee is named by November or December every year. This year's committee members were Vivek Arunkumar and Helena Gardner of RS and Daniela Burnworth and Robinson of CWS. They were responsible for coordinating and budgeting the event, said Berthiaume. He said it cost about $1,000.

This year, university organizations will have information tables to learn more about related groups on campus. Times will be posted for a new film series across the hall.