This past week, the Tunnel of Oppression increased awareness among students about issues including domestic abuse, sexual assault and racial discrimination, while offering suggestions on how to make a change.
This year’s event added the Tunnel of Hope, which called students to be proactive in their communities about these issues.
Sophomore English and Spanish double major Katie Wampole said each of the tunnels had an important message, but a somber feel.
“It makes you uncomfortable, but at the same time, it’s good to have because it makes you aware,” she said. “I feel like a lot of the times, we don’t think about this happening in our society…there are problems that go on behind the scenes.”
Junior construction major Caleb Tackes volunteered to act out a scene in the Tunnel of Human Trafficking and do the voiceover for a scene in the Tunnel of Domestic Abuse.
“The live action scenes caught the tour groups off guard,” Tackes said. “From talking to friends who went through the tunnel, I could tell the physical nature and intensity of the scenes made them a little uncomfortable while opening their eyes to the reality of the issues at hand.”
According to Tackes, it was tough to get into character at first.
“I tend not to be an angry pimp demanding money, so it was difficult,” Tackes said. “Once I embraced the role, it made me realize that this kind of oppression is all too real. It’s a unique experience to cause the surprised reactions of so many people at once and definitely worth it to educate others about such oppressive forces around the world.”
Tackes said he hopes students’ eyes were opened from this experience.
“I hope that the students took away a new perspective on what’s going on around the world and in our own backyards,” Tackes said. “I hope they left wanting to cause change, especially after the final tunnel, the Tunnel of Hope.”
