The Tunnel of Oppression is a campus diversity initiative originally developed at Western Illinois University. The initiative stemmed from a homogeneous campus environment searching for a way to represent the realities of oppression into a full sensory experiential manner. The creators of the Tunnel of Oppression wanted to give participants the opportunity to see, touch, hear, and feel the realities of oppression as a stepping stone towards creating diversity awareness. The first Tunnel of Oppression was loosely based off of the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, CA.

The Tunnel of Oppression is intended to be eye-opening and consciousness raising and is built as a brief introductory experience for those students who have rarely experienced difference. The rationale is that students are often unable to fully understand oppression and discrimination until they have experienced it first-hand.

The experience should stimulate thoughts, feelings, and emotions around the issues and images presented.  Therefore, the Tunnel is often shocking and disturbing to those who have never experienced blatant forms of discrimination or oppression. A number of feelings can be evoked as a result of the full-sensory experience and may also be upsetting to those who have witnessed the realities of the images presented. Yet, it is important to realize that the scenes depicted in the Tunnel represent reality for those living it as a daily experience.

Penn State's Tunnel

At Penn State, The Tunnel of Oppression is a program within the Paul Robeson Cultural Center,and is collaboratively planned with The LGBTA Student Resource Center, The Center for Women Students, University Health Services, Office of Residence Life, Office of Judicial Affairs, The Center for Ethics & Religious Affairs, Fraternity & Sorority Life, Special Populations, SMART, NAACP, International Student Services, and the Multicultural Greek Council.

Given the many and varied forms of oppression in the world, it is impossible to cover every issue in one program. The students, faculty and staff responsible for the content of the tunnel attempt to broadly cover issues and to at least begin the social justice discussion.