Spring Break
Tunnel Vision Opens Eyes
Students Gain Perspective On Issues Of Oppression Through Program
Kim Romanello
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: News
On a large, diverse campus, oppression may seem like a thing of the past, although as "The Tunnel" will attempt to show, it is not.
The Tunnel of Oppression will allow those who do not necessarily experience oppression or may not realize that oppressions still occur, to get a small glimpse of how oppression affects others, said Missy Korduner, the program director.
"This program is a series of rooms designed to advance and disseminate knowledge about issues of oppression and encourage participants to reflect upon the questions raised by hatred and ignorance," according to the press release about the program. "The Tunnel of Oppression program illustrates the struggles of others while looking at current and egregious acts that occur in our nation and around the world."
Korduner worked with a group of colleagues at a previous institution in California to implement the program and worked to implement it here as well.
"As far as I know, this is the first time UConn has implemented the Tunnel of Oppression, but it has been used at many schools across the country for years," Korduner said. "I honestly don't know who the original creators of the program were or how it got started, but I've heard it started in California and also in Illinois, so I'm not sure which is accurate."
"I got involved because of all of the publicity Community Outreach was running on it on their website and through e-mail," said Kelly Pielech, a 6th-semester sociology major and program volunteer. "I decided to get involved because I want to expand my own knowledge on oppression in the U.S. so I can help change the stereotypes that I have. I hope that the tunnel of oppression helps students recognize the stereotypes that they have in order to help change the magnitude of oppression in today's world."
The objectives of the program are two-fold - to educate students on the oppression that continues to occur on campus, in our country and/or around the world, as well as to assist students in developing ideas on how they can help alleviate oppression, Korduner said.
"My hope is that participants will go through this experience and that it will spark discussion among the community in how to promote acceptance of others. I hope participants will realize what role they may play in oppression and what role they can play in alleviated oppressions," Korduner said.
The Tunnel of Oppression Program, which will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 6th from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Wednesday Nov, 7th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Students are encouraged to register for the event. Small groups will begin the experience every 10 minutes during the allotted times and the entire experience will take approximately 45 minutes to go through the eight different rooms simulating oppression, Korduner said. Interested students should email missy.korduner@uconn.edu with their name and preferred time slot to reserve a space. A confirmation will be sent if space is available at the particular time.
Contact Kim Romanello at Kimbery.Romanello@UConn.edu.
The Tunnel of Oppression will allow those who do not necessarily experience oppression or may not realize that oppressions still occur, to get a small glimpse of how oppression affects others, said Missy Korduner, the program director.
"This program is a series of rooms designed to advance and disseminate knowledge about issues of oppression and encourage participants to reflect upon the questions raised by hatred and ignorance," according to the press release about the program. "The Tunnel of Oppression program illustrates the struggles of others while looking at current and egregious acts that occur in our nation and around the world."
Korduner worked with a group of colleagues at a previous institution in California to implement the program and worked to implement it here as well.
"As far as I know, this is the first time UConn has implemented the Tunnel of Oppression, but it has been used at many schools across the country for years," Korduner said. "I honestly don't know who the original creators of the program were or how it got started, but I've heard it started in California and also in Illinois, so I'm not sure which is accurate."
"I got involved because of all of the publicity Community Outreach was running on it on their website and through e-mail," said Kelly Pielech, a 6th-semester sociology major and program volunteer. "I decided to get involved because I want to expand my own knowledge on oppression in the U.S. so I can help change the stereotypes that I have. I hope that the tunnel of oppression helps students recognize the stereotypes that they have in order to help change the magnitude of oppression in today's world."
The objectives of the program are two-fold - to educate students on the oppression that continues to occur on campus, in our country and/or around the world, as well as to assist students in developing ideas on how they can help alleviate oppression, Korduner said.
"My hope is that participants will go through this experience and that it will spark discussion among the community in how to promote acceptance of others. I hope participants will realize what role they may play in oppression and what role they can play in alleviated oppressions," Korduner said.
The Tunnel of Oppression Program, which will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 6th from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Wednesday Nov, 7th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Students are encouraged to register for the event. Small groups will begin the experience every 10 minutes during the allotted times and the entire experience will take approximately 45 minutes to go through the eight different rooms simulating oppression, Korduner said. Interested students should email missy.korduner@uconn.edu with their name and preferred time slot to reserve a space. A confirmation will be sent if space is available at the particular time.
Contact Kim Romanello at Kimbery.Romanello@UConn.edu.
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