the Informer

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This sentiment will be echoed over the next few weeks throughout the university community as several organizations prepare for a university-wide program called Tunnel of Oppression. This exhibit of scenarios and skits hopes to move the community in a powerful way.On Friday, Feb. 12, the Office of Residential Life in collaboration with the Connections Health Education and Wellness Center, Residence Hall Association, Village Community Council, Center for Community Services, Learning Plus, Counseling and Psychological Services, and several Multicultural Programs will be hosting Tunnel of Oppression in Gengras Student Union. The goal of this program is to challenge participants’ thinking and to raise awareness about issues of oppression through visual aids, displays, acting and audio.

Tunnel of Oppression will begin in Suisman Lounge and will mostly take place throughout the third floor of GSU from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students and other members of the university community will be guided through a “tunnel” where they will either view or participate in scenarios that demonstrate the reality of hate crimes and covert and open acts of oppression as the community experiences them. Each scenario will explore a particular form of oppression and the how it occurs. Scenes include, but are not limited to, self-esteem and body image, domestic abuse, homophobia and racism.

The Tunnel of Oppression experience should take about 30-minutes. At the conclusion of the program, university members will meet to debrief with a representative from CAPS to discuss the events that took place throughout. Marsha Dawson, Resident Director for the Village Apartments, says, “[Tunnel of Oppression] is an exhibition of some of the most difficult and complex issues that we face today. The tunnel experience will demonstrate the reality of hate crimes [and] oppression.”

She goes on to explain that the Tunnel of Oppression is an exhibition of some of the most difficult and complex issues in modern society; this learning experience is designed to advance and disseminate knowledge on issues of oppression.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering for Tunnel of Oppression must be available for rehearsal on Thursday, Feb. 11 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in GSU, as well as on Friday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the actual program. Those interested should contact Marsha through email at mdawson@hartford.edu.