Are you interested in bringing a new diversity program to USC? The Diversity Committee is looking for representatives from student organizations to create "exhibits" (or themed rooms) for the Tunnel of Awareness. The Tunnel of Awareness is a campus diversity initiative originally developed at Western Illinois University and replicated across the country. The initiative stemmed from searching for a way to represent the realities of oppression in a full sensory experiential manner. It is intended to be an alarming and eye-opening experience and is an opportunity for students to experience discrimination through images, videos and scenarios that specific oppressed populations experience on a daily basis. To give you a few ideas, last year we had several exhibits which focused on a variety of topics including: religious oppression, bystander accountability, bigotry, sexual health and violence and more.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-9StO50hr8
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlxExuwVISM
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qFq0aVuvfI
  
  

Event Details:
USC's second annual Tunnel of Awareness will be held on Monday, April 2 and Tuesday, April 3, 2012 in the Capstone Campus Room. Exhibits MUST be set up on Sunday, April 1.

Please be aware that the Tunnel is a several hour event. Volunteering for this program will require a significant time commitment between planning for your exhibit and providing volunteers to staff the room and/or act out a skit during the event. We suggest that you have volunteers work in "shifts" that last a few hours at a time.

Proposal Submission Deadline:
The deadline for submitting a proposal is February 27, 2012 at 12:00 AM. Organizations will be notified of acceptance by March 12, 2012. Details for a mandatory volunteer meeting/training session will be provided at a later date.

Proposal Submission Guidelines:
Participants must be able to view your "exhibit" in four (4) minutes or less. Any audio clips, videos, or skits must remain under this four minute total time limit as well. When completing the proposal form below please be sure your "exhibit" to fulfills as many of these objectives as possible.

As a result of this experience, participants from the USC community will be able to:

1. Describe oppression and social inequalities as a result of experimental learning techniques such as audio and visual exhibits.
2. Engage in group discussion and individual reflection concerning topics of oppression to open students' perspectives about the impact they could make on people going through such oppressions.
3. Demonstrate awareness of issues regarding social inequalities and oppression that may go unnoticed in our community.
4. Identify the role of personal and community responsibility in issues of social injustice.

Please complete the electronic form below in order to submit a proposal.

We look forward to your submission and hope to provide awareness of oppression faced every day by individuals around the world. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email or call Marcy LaBossiere at 803-777-4330.

As a result of this experience, participants from the USC community will be able to:

1. Describe oppression and social inequalities as a result of experimental learning techniques such as audio and visual exhibits.
2. Engage in group discussion and individual reflection concerning topics of oppression to open students' perspectives about the impact they could make on people going through such oppressions.
3. Demonstrate awareness of issues regarding social inequalities and oppression that may go unnoticed in our community.
4. Identify the role of personal and community responsibility in issues of social injustice.

Please include a brief description of the exhibit and how the exhibit will meet the expected learning outcomes for participants:

Other, please list:

Please note that participants will be expected to provide/purchase supplies for their exhibits outside of A/V equipment and lighting. If this is not possible special exceptions may be made upon request.

Deadline for submission is February 27, 2012 at 12:00 AM!!!