Tunnel of Oppression 2010
Thursday, March 5 & Friday, March 6
Grupp Fireside Lounge & Regis Room
Richard E. Winter'42 Student Center
Please click here for Tunnel times


What is the Tunnel of Oppression?
The Tunnel of Oppression is a campus diversity initiative originally developed at Western Illinois University. The initiative stemmed from a homogeneous campus environment searching for a way to represent the realities of oppression into a full sensory experiential manner. The creators of the Tunnel of Oppression wanted to give participants the opportunity to see, touch, hear, and feel the realities of oppression as a stepping stone towards creating diversity awareness. The first Tunnel of Oppression was loosely based off of the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, CA.

The Tunnel of Oppression at Canisius College
2010 marks the third year that the Tunnel of Oppression will be presented at Canisius College. The program is intended to be eye-opening and consciousness raising and is built as a brief introductory experience for those students who have rarely experienced difference. The rationale is that students are often unable to fully understand oppression and discrimination until they have experienced it first-hand.

The Experience
The experience should stimulate thoughts, feelings, and emotions around the issues and images presented. Therefore, the Tunnel is often shocking and disturbing to those who have never experienced blatant forms of discrimination or oppression. A number of feelings can be evoked as a result of the full-sensory experience and may also be upsetting to those who have witnessed the realities of the images presented. Yet, it is important to realize that the scenes depicted in the Tunnel represent reality for those living it as a daily experience.

The Issues
Issues that have been explored in past Tunnels of Oppression at Canisius include:

Schedule
Due to the sensitive nature of this event and the overwhelming response from students wanting to participate, we ask that you please sign up for a time to attend the Tunnel in advance.  To sign up, please visit the office of Campus Programming & Leadership Development (WC-003) or call 716-888-2190 and speak with Patrick Lesswing (lesswinp@canisius.edu), Leadership Development Coordinator.

Tunnel Times:
Day 1:
TBA

Day 2:
TBA

Sponsorship
The 2009 Tunnel of Oppression was sponsored by the office of Campus Programming & Leadership Development, Unity, Amnesty International, Women & Gender Studies Department, Afro-American Society, and the Campus Ministry Justice League. 

If your office/student organization is interested in sponsorship of the 2010 Tunnel of Oppression, please contact Patrick Lesswing, Leadership Development Coordinator, in the office of Campus Programming & Leadership Development at 716-888-2190 or lesswinp@canisius.edu.

Questions?
For more information, please contact Patrick Lesswing, Leadership Development Coordinator, in the office of Campus Programming & Leadership Development at 716-888-2190 or lesswinp@canisius.edu.