Victoria McKenzie/Winonan
Racism, sexism and prejudice are issues of both the past and present and particularly relevant to students. Winona State University students are holding an event called the Tunnel of Oppression to spread awareness and spark conversations.
The Tunnel of Oppression, as an interactive exhibit, will allow students to experience social oppression and reflect with each other about their experiences. The event will occur March 4-6 in East Hall, Kryzsko Commons, and is open to all students at no cost.
The Tunnel of Oppression was organized by Knowledge, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Pluralism (KEAP) Center council and diversity club leaders including those from Hmong-American Student Association, Asian American Club, Black Cultural Organization, Full Spectrum club, Spanish Club, Active Minds and the Jewish Student Organization.
Jouapag Lee, the KEAP student coordinator and MSUSA diversity specialist for Winona State, hopes that the Tunnel of Oppression will give students an opportunity to “talk about social oppression in a safe place and in a way that helps them understand what oppression feels like.”
Lee believes that stopping oppression is possible if we learn how to be inclusive in our actions and languages.
Becoming inclusive as a campus requires us to appreciate the diversity within our student population and surrounding community, Lee said.
She refers to diversity as a “very hot topic” at Winona State this year.
Lee said, “For the first time, students are coming together to advocate for Winona State’s very first diversity resource center.”
Although gaining support for a diversity resource center has not always been an easy process, prospects appear better with the funding for the Tunnel of Oppression.
This year the KEAP council is able to organize the event with money received from a Warrior grant and students who are working hard to put the event together.
While the grant will make the event possible, the real success depends on student attendance and support, according to Lee. Higher student attendance will provide the school more incentive to fund the Tunnel of Oppression in the future, as well as other similar events that promote diversity and acceptance of others.
Stephanie Lohn, a freshman at Winona State who describes herself as an “active advocate for freedom of the chained and oppressed,” said she believes that the Tunnel of Oppression is an important opportunity for students to learn about oppression and “address what truly needs to be done in order for it to stop.”
For students like Lee and Lohn, oppression and acceptance are at the forefront of their minds as they devote their personal time to work for change. The Tunnel of Oppression provides an opportunity for students to focus on some of the harsh realities that surround them on a daily basis.
