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The “Tunnel of Consciousness” recently made its sixth annual appearance on campus, with a goal of promoting tolerance and raising awareness within the Maryville community.

Installed for a week this fall, the exhibit, (previously known as the Tunnel of Oppression), highlights issues of oppression, privilege, and power. The experience is sponsored by Maryville’s Division of Student Success.

Approximately 500 students experience the Tunnel annually, says Jen McCluskey, PhD, vice president for Student Success.

“The Tunnel of Consciousness provides a meaningful opportunity for students to bring issues of oppression and privilege to the forefront,” McCluskey says. “These are educational opportunities that provide awareness, education, and change.”

The Tunnel of Consciousness aims to raise awareness in a number of areas, including cultural sensitivity, equal opportunity, and the need to take action. Topics such as religion, race, gender, ability, class, and LGBTQ are explored through news articles, photographic images, and interactive displays, among other resources.

tun·nel (verb) pass through a potential barrier.

con·scious·ness (noun) the state of being awake and aware of one’s surroundings.

Students and others who took advantage of the opportunity said they learned about important social justice issues in their community and the world. “[The Tunnel of Consciousness] creates awareness and gives a lot of information about real society,” said student Kine Kleppe. “The goal is to make everybody aware of what is happening in the world, and make people want to make a change to construct a better world.”

“Understanding and open-mindedness can lead to serious change,” student Rebekah Anderson said. “The aim and hope for society is to reach that point of understanding with an open mind to begin living with compassion throughout our lives.”