The interactive event, Tunnel of Oppression, sponsored by Multicultural Student Affairs, is designed to introduce students and faculty to the concepts of contemporary oppression, privilege, and power, according to Tracey Ray, Director of Multicultural Student Affairs and African-American Student Affairs. The program also aims to inspire social change by creating awareness of the effects of oppression within society and the campus community. The program is also sponsored by University Housing, CSLEPS, The Women’s Center, GLBT, the Counseling Center, and Student Government, among others.
“People may have never been placed in these types of situations, and they obtain a sense of what it actually feels like to be oppressed or discriminated through the sights and sounds they experience,” said Ray. “While the Tunnel may be disturbing and upsetting, it is an effective tool used to teach people about how it really feels to be in the situation the images present.”
The Tunnel of Oppression is a campus grassroots diversity program that originated in 1993 at the Western Illinois University and now takes place on campuses nationwide. The tunnel shows personal accounts, slurs, and other images and messages that aim to educate and challenge people to think more deeply about oppression. By engaging emotions of the participants and showing different personal accounts, the tunnel allows for the accounts expressed in the program to be truly effective, according to Ray.
In the past, the tunnel has focused on exposing such problems as: hazing in athletics and Greek Life, society’s obsession with beauty perfection, racism towards African Americans, immigration discrimination, and spiritual discrimination.
The tunnel will be available from Monday to Wednesday, during the First Annual NCSU Diversity Week, in the Carmichael Playzone, which is located on the first floor of the new Carmichael Gym building. The tunnel will be open from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, and from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
At the end of the tour, participants are encouraged to discuss the different cultures and perspectives they’ve witnessed and explore opportunities to address the problems presented. The tunnel is often shocking and disturbing to those who have never experienced blatant forms of discrimination or oppression, and there are exits from the tunnel for those who may find the experience difficult to complete.
According to Ray, the goal of the tunnel is directly in line with the objective and goals of the Division of Student Affairs: “To create a welcoming and inclusive work and learning environment where differences are respected and valued, that offers opportunity for and supports the success of all students, staff and faculty.”
While this is the first year that the Tunnel of Oppression will be hosted at NC State, it may become an annual event with an effort initiated by students to host an annual Diversity Education Week, according to Ray.
