Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services in partnership with the Residence Hall Association is presenting the Tunnel of Oppression. This is the fifth year the program has been at Missouri State University. Tunnel of Oppression is an interactive, campus-wide diversity program in which actors put on scenarios for participants to experience. It will challenge participants’ thoughts, perceptions, and inner feelings on issues dealing with oppression and hate. Once the participants arrive, they will be guided through six passive and active scenarios. Each active scenario will consist of a real-life situation scripted and performed by Missouri State students. This year’s scenarios include: LGBTQ, Domestic Violence, Poverty/Low-Socioeconomic Status, Veterans, and English as a Second Language. The last room of the series is a processing room staffed by Missouri State counselors. Once participants have completed the tunnel, an empowerment room consisting of ways students can get engaged on campus and in their community will be provided. The program is intended to make people aware of the harsh reality of hate words, images, stereotypes, and the impact they have on us. Some of these hate words, statistics, and thought-provoking images will be displayed on the walls of the tunnel.
Statistics from 2013 show that 83% of students, faculty, and staff who attended the program agreed or strongly agreed that going through Tunnel made an impact on their lives, and 82% felt empowered to go out and make a positive change! The Tunnel of Oppression is also a very well attended campus-wide program. In its fourth year, over 600 students, faculty, and staff members attended Tunnel. We would like to see another amazing year for the Tunnel of Oppression! The program will run for two days: Wednesday, February 12, and Thursday, February 13. Tunnel of Oppression will run from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will take place in Wells House, Ground Floor.
Step out of your comfort zone and into the Tunnel.
For more information, please contact program co-advisor Jacob Mendez at Mendez322@live.missouristate.edu or 836-4389.