The Diversity Center
Tunnel of Oppression Planning Timeline
The Tunnel of Oppression is a multimedia, interactive, experience designed to raise awareness of oppression of individuals throughout the country and the world. The Tunnel offers the opportunity for participants to walk through spaces designed by student groups and gain insight and information about the oppressed groups being highlighted. Some examples of groups that have been highlighted at other universities include: LGBTQ, homelessness, bigotry/political oppression, socio-economic oppression, women’s oppression, men’s oppression, religious oppression, genocide, oppression of individuals with mental disorders, issues of education, issues of types of government, ageism, ableism, and many, many more.
The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
December: Building A Team and A Topic
- Week of 11/29 – 12/3
- Identify your team members and identify areas for people to focus on:
- Team Captain – meets with Staff Liaison
- Props and Displays – coordinates purchase & creation of props
- Audio/visual needs – coordinates media components
- Research – coordinates research related to topic
- Develop a list of potential topics
- Identify your team members and identify areas for people to focus on:
- Week of 12/6 - 12/17
- Narrow down your list and choose a topic for your scene
- Begin research on the topic
- Take some time away to study! Good luck on finals!
J-Term: Create and Practice
- Week of 1/3 – 1/7
- Design the overall concept for your scene (see page 3 for more info)
- Passive – audience views static images and words pertaining to your topic
- Mixed Media – audience sees and hears your topic
- Interactive – audience is invited in as participant to witness a short scene, actors may speak to one another or the audience members
- Decide how you will communicate the topic of your scene and the things you learned in your research to your audience. What is the takeaway message? What story do you want to tell?
- Draft an initial budget
- Submit a written proposal for your scene (see page 4 for more info)
- Design the overall concept for your scene (see page 3 for more info)
- Week of 1/10– 1/14
- Team Captain meets with your Staff Liaison to share your topic, overall concept, and itemized budget
- Week of 1/17 – 1/21
- Team Captain meets with Staff Liaison to review written proposal and offer feedback
- Week of 1/24 - 1/28
- Discuss feedback as a team
- Make changes as needed
- Begin designing the displays for your scene
- Posters, making videos, scripts for actors, finding music, printing handouts for participants, etc.
- Purchase necessary props
- Clothing, colored paper, music, etc.
February: Final Touches...Show Time!
- Week of 1/31 – 2/4
- Continue with the finishing touches
- Work parties to make props, displays, etc.
- Rehearsals for those using a script
- Continue with the finishing touches
- Week of 2/7 – 2/11
- Team captain attends a large group meeting to update everyone on the details of the upcoming event
- Week of 2/14 – 2/18
- Team captain meets with Staff Liaison review status of scene and ask any last minute questions
- Ongoing work parties to wrap up any tasks
- Rehearsal!
- Week of 2/21 – 2/25
- Show time!
March: Debrief and Celebration
- Week of 3/7 – 3/11
- Large group feedback & celebration