Tunnel of Oppression attacks social discrimination

Angela Rodriguez |Staff Writer|

CSUSB students and the Office of Housing and Residential Life will host the “Tunnel of Oppression” campus diversity education program on March 4 from 1-8 p.m. and March 5 10 a.m.-5 p.m in the Santos Manuel Student Union fourplex.

Featured forms of discrimination for discussion will range from sexism, classism, racism, homophobia, religious oppression, body image perfection and ableism, a form of discrimination or social prejudice against people with disabilities.

The event is a two day event that is open to the public and free for all.

On day one, the event will focus on a series of different scenarios relating to oppression that will be acted out by student participants.

As day two follows, students, faculty and staff will have the chance to walk through the tunnel exhibit to view the information and reflect on the images they’ve seen.

The project was developed in 1994 by Western Illinois University, who modeled the event after the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

The event is intended to engage participants’ emotions through a series of scenes aimed to challenge them to think about issues of profound oppression.

Many people feel that this event can upset participants who have experienced similar experiences to the images presented and the scenes acted out in various scenarios.

Co-sponsors of this event include: CSUSB’s Associated Students Inc., the Cross Culutural Center, the Pride Center, S.O.A.R., the University Diversity Committee and the Women’s Resource Center.

For more information, contact the coordinator of this event, Jonathan Higgins, at CSUSB’s Office of Housing and Residential Life at (909) 537-4167.