The Tunnel of Oppression, an interactive experience that examines current issues of race, domestic violence, gender identification, discrimination and other issues was presented to the students of Fort Hays by Black Student Union, Gay-Straight Alliance, the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, Student Veterans Association, International Student Union and FHSU Dreamers United.
The Tunnel of Oppression is a diversity program that originated in 1993 at Western Illinois University. Looking to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, California as a model, Tunnel strives to give people a way to experience oppression in a hands-on way. Engaging emotions of the participants, the Tunnel allows for the accounts expressed in the program to be truly effective.
Many times people may have never been placed in these types of situations, The Tunnel gives them a sense of what it actually feels like to be oppressed or discriminated through the sights and sounds they experience.
While Tunnel may be disturbing, it is an effective tool used to teach people about how it really feels to be in the various situations.
The Tunnel of Oppression has be conducted on the campus of the University of Kansas, University of Montana, Texas Tech, just to name a few.