Involving college students and community members in a social awareness event

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Abstract

"Tunnel of Oppression," an interactive walk-through event that combines visual art, multi-media, poetry and prose, was hosted by the AmeriCorps*VISTA program at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) to raise participant awareness and increase social consciousness in students and community members. In order to plan, organize and carry out the "Tunnel of Oppression" event, members of the EMU AmeriCorps*VISTA program enlisted the help of non-AmeriCorps*VISTA students as well as campus faculty and staff. AmeriCorps*VISTA member Angelina Hamilton Broderick (Michigan Campus Compact) submitted this effective practice in 2005.

Issue

AmeriCorps*VISTA members who work on college campuses need to bridge the gap between other college students, faculty and staff, and the communities where they are located. "Tunnel of Oppression" can be used to educate students and the surrounding community about pressing social issues while also involving them in the event.

Action

Planning

Start as early as six months in advance of the projected event date.
Hold the event in conjunction with another occurrence on campus. Combining happenings will bring in a larger and more diverse audience. For example, EMU's AmeriCorps*VISTA program decided to offer "Tunnel of Oppression" in conjunction with a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration.
The event name can be changed to convey hope and progress (e.g., Indiana State University used "Beyond Words" rather than "Tunnel of Oppression").
Select social themes that tie into the campus and the surrounding community so that participants will see the themes as relevant to their lives. EMU's AmeriCorps*VISTA members chose the following five themes: race relations, domestic abuse, access, sexuality, and body image.
Form small committees of volunteers to tackle the chosen themes (e.g., if there are five themes, then there should be five committees). Each committee should be allowed to select their specific theme — this will create a sense of ownership of the project.
Assign each committee a faculty/staff sponsor and a student chair. The student chair will attend all committee meetings and relay the information back to the rest of the "theme team" (e.g., volunteers working as artists/writers/actors, technology coordinators, event guides and promoters, and so forth).

Relationship building

Seek support from around the campus to allow for a greater pool of resources. Recruit an array of volunteers from various departments — this allows for a larger and more varied audience as well as a diversity of input and creative ideas.
Some individual departments to approach include:
- Health education and services
- HousingCampus life or student activities
- Specific academic departments that may have a vested interest in the particular themes
- Office of diversity and affirmative action
Establish a relationship with the campus facilities employees so they can help aid in the actual construction and in taking down of physical objects.
The support of the campus is crucial in ensuring that the event is like none other that the college and community have experienced. A climate of creativity and openness will provide maximum success.

Implementing

Obtain permission and reserve campus space/rooms for the event. EMU's AmeriCorps*VISTA program used five rooms (one for each theme) that were located on the first floor of a residence hall on campus. There was also an additional room with information on all of the themes as well as a wall covered with large sheets of blank paper for participants to write how they felt about the experience.
During the EMU's AmeriCorps*VISTA program event, evaluations were completed to ascertain the participants' learning. There were also counselors on hand for participants who wanted to speak with someone about their experience.
A wrap-up reflection was held directly after the EMU's AmeriCorps*VISTA program event. During the reflection the teams for each room were able to discuss their creations as well as answer questions from participants.

Context

Originally developed at Western Illinois University, "Tunnel of Oppression" was intended to draw attention to issues of concern that the world faces today. This event is recognized nationally by the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) and has been offered at a number of college campuses across the country.

EMU's AmeriCorps*VISTA program is part of Michigan Campus Compact (MCC). MCC is an organization that promotes the education and commitment of Michigan college students to be engaged citizens, through creating and expanding academic, co-curricular and campus-wide opportunities for community service, service-learning and civic engagement.

Outcome

Altogether, 60 students, faculty, and staff worked on the EMU's AmeriCorps*VISTA program's "Tunnel of Oppression" event. The participants were deeply moved by the words and images, and this led to a further examination of their feelings and reactions.

General benefits of using a social awareness event like "Tunnel of Oppression" include:

Increases participant knowledge and understanding of vital social issues
Challenges participants to take what they have learned and apply it to their everyday lives
Encourages student voice
Promotes collaboration
Requires partnership
Meets community needs
Builds stronger relationships between the campus and surrounding community