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Tunnel encloses forms of oppression SARAH SCHNEIDER Daily Egyptian As she walked through a series of rooms with common themes of hardship, Seiphra Bennett said she realized all people are the same but are defined by their experiences. Bennett, a sophomore from Chicago studying health care management and president of the Black Togetherness Organization, said, she gained a new appreciation and understanding for other people after her first time in the Tunnel of Oppression last spring. The fifth annual Tunnel of Oppression, hosted by the BTO and University Housing, takes place this week in Grinnell Hall. Alfred Jackson, education and outreach coordinator for University Housing, said the tunnel is an interactive learning piece that allows students to display their perception of what discrimination, oppression, hatred and prejudice are and how they apply to society today. The tunnel features 15 themed rooms created by volunteers from Registered Student Organizations and community groups, which chose what topic they thought people needed to be aware of, Jackson said. “As time goes by, society changes by how things are viewed and tends to take on different images,� he said. “We want the students to be able to showcase what they have learned and how it has transcended over time; it involves a
Corbin Doss, left, a sophomore from Springfield studying civil engineering, and Chris Shelton, middle, a senior from Chicago studying biology, yell and curse Monday at Jared Pugh, a sophomore from Chicago studying radio television, during a scene performed at the fifth annual Tunnel of Oppression event hosted by the Black Togetherness Organization. Those who participated were silenced and asked not to respond to the actors so they could experience oppression firsthand. “The skit is supposed to evoke fear in the individual,� Doss said. LAUREN LEONE DAILY EGYPTIAN
transition from outside the world of academia.� Rosemary Simmons, director of the Counseling Center, said each group’s theme choice often reflects its reason for being a group in the first place. For example, Simmons said the Saluki Rainbow Network focused on discrimination and hate crimes against gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and individuals questioning
their sexuality, while the Women’s Center focused on sexual assault or domestic violence. Many student groups that represent minorities focus on racial issues, she said. “I think a lot of times students have gathered because they have a common identity and need support, and when they volunteer for the Tunnel of Oppression, they can highlight being a target of discrimination and what it is like,� she said.
Jackson said spectators will be subjected to various types of discrimination and oppression to gain a better understanding of what oppression is and to question their own beliefs. “We are all shaped by our environment, but sometimes our environment is very limited by what society says to us,� he said. Bennett said one room that opened her eyes featured a student
with a physical disability who expressed his distress with people not noticing him or responding when he talks. “I realized that this is something that we do that does not make sense,� she said. “It really changed my opinion of what people go through.� Please see OPPRESSION | 2
Administration focuses on reliable student demographic BRANDON COLEMAN Daily Egyptian Though the number of AfricanAmerican students at SIU is steadily increasing, their graduation rate isn't as high as other demographics, according to university data. Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, director of University Housing, said SIUC is working to correct that by enhancing cultural openness in faculty and staff to create a positive learning environment for all students. "SIUC is a richly diverse environment, of which our AfricanAmerican student population is a vibrant part," Payne-Kirchmeier said. The African-American student population has increased by 970 students since fall 2003, making it one of the two largest growing student demographics at SIUC,
according to the university's Institutional Research and Studies. The Hispanic student demographic is the only other student population to experience a huge jump, with 407 more students since 2003. But graduation rates from the Office of Enrollment Management show African-American students have one of the lowest graduation rates compared to rates of other ethnicities. In 1999, 29.7 percent of African-American students graduated, compared to 47 percent of caucasian students. In 2006, 34 percent of African-American students graduated, compared to 43.5 percent of caucasian students. Payne-Kirchmeier said multiple university programs and services serve as support for all students. "There are reasons why most African-American students choose SIU," said Peter Gitau, vice chancellor
Breakdown of students by ethnic group Total
Ph.D
Total
African-American
JUSTIN SKARIN | DAILY EGYPTIAN SOURCE: SIUC INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND STUDIES
of student affairs. "Part of that has to do with its history as a university of access."
He said cultural centers such as the Black Resource and Service Center provide a home-like atmo-
sphere for students that can help them perform well in school and graduate. If a student feels more at home, they tend to have better grades, Gitau said. Dexter Wakefield, director for the Black Resource and Service Center, said the university should create life skills programs to help students develop personally. African-American students in particular, many of whom come from a big city, tend to long for comforts only a big city can provide, Wakefield said. “If the university created more programs where it can help students transition from inner city to college life, I think we can assist them more to prepare and stay around longer,� he said. Please see UNDERREP | 4