Kristin Marthaler

On Wednesday, April 5 and Thursday, April 6, the Black Student Alliance, Native American club and the Chicanos in Action hosted the Tunnel of Oppression.

“We wanted to share with campus what they went through,” said Steven Martin, Native American advisor in the Multicultural Affairs Office. He asked his students if they would like to participate in the Tunnel of Oppression.

“We presented it to the students and let them know they didn’t have to feel obligated to participate,” said Martin.

With more than 200 attendees, Rozhyer Aware, coordinator for multicultural programs, said, “We were pleased with the turnout.”

Some students were involved with skits in addition to the tunnel.

One skit in particular involved students protraying a nun and an American Indian student. Nuns used to pour bleach on American Indians’ hands to wash away the red.

“Some said it was offensive or too exaggerated, but how can you exaggerate the truth?” said Martin.

He added that SDSU’s version of the Tunnel of Oppression was a lot less abrasive then other schools around the country.

Martin and Aware plan to do this again, making it an annual event.

Martin said plans include expanding the event to address genderism, sexism and ageism, for example.

“I thought it was a great learning opportunity,” he said.

#1.884518:1203878627.jpg:tunnel03.jpg:SDSU students read about the execution of 38 Native warriors in Mankato, Minn., in 1862.