Co-Curricular Guide Fall 2016/2017 Updated 6.21 | Page 6
Tunnel of Oppression Assignment
The Tunnel of Oppression is an event that happens each year on the IUPUI campus. It is an interactive production
created by the Social Justice Scholars, Resident Assistants, and other dedicated staff and students. The Tunnel aims to
highlight contemporary social justice issues and to introduce participants to the concepts of oppression, microaggressions, and the “isms” faced by numerous communities in today’s society. Participants are guided through a series
of scenes that aim to educate and challenge them to think critically about issues of oppression. At the end of the tour,
participants are provided with the opportunity to discuss their experiences with each other through a guided facilitation
led by a faculty or staff member. You can reference the following guide to help build this program into your class in an
impactful way.
First, invite the ‘Social Justice 101’ presentation into your classroom. Found on page 23 of this guide.
Second, have your students go or go with your students to the ‘Tunnel of Oppression’ event. It could fall during your class
time, and you could go during class. The event is Nov. 7-9, 2016. There will be opportunity to debrief during the event.
Lastly, assign your students a reflection paper about their experience. Have them consider the following questions when
they are writing their paper:
o What are forms of oppression?
o Who are oppressed populations and in what ways are they oppressed? What is the relationship between power
and privilege?
o In what ways can you define micro-aggression?
o What did you learn from being exposed to the topics?
o What topic was the most impactful?
o What have been different events that have happened recently that have a harmful effect on a specific group of
people?
o How have you become aware of your own biases from this experience?
o How will your interactions change with others as a result of this experience?
o What will you do to fight oppression?
Research/Data Collection Based Assignments
IUPUI History, Pride and Traditions Exploration Assignment
This assignment will allow your students to practice the skills of evaluating resources and conducting college-level
research while exploring the rich history of the IUPUI campus.
Students will be assigned to a group of classmates and each team will select an area of University history,
traditions, and culture to explore. A list of possible topics will be provided, which may include Jaguar athletics,
Greek life, student life, homecoming, alumni involvement, student governance, or community engagement.
Each group will submit one researched-based paper that will be collectively developed by the team members.
Each group will share their impressions of their topic through an in-class presentation and offer suggestions on
new programs and initiatives to build upon campus pride and traditions.
The presentations will be 10 minutes in length and will include a visual component such as PowerPoint, media,
tri-fold, etc. Invite representatives from Division of Student Affairs to judge the presentations (and perhaps
incorporate ideas from their presentations into future program initiatives).
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