Racism, sexism, classism and other issues surrounding oppression will be addressed this week during a hands-on event at Missouri Western State University.

The Center for Multicultural Education at Western will host the Tunnel of Oppression Oct. 9-12. The experience is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day in the Blum Student Union, room 223.

According to a news release, the Tunnel of Oppression is an interactive tunnel that addresses different issues related to racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, hate and inequality. Participants are guided through a series of scenes that aim to educate and challenge them to think more deeply about issues of oppression.

Western said the Tunnel strives to give people a way to experience oppression in a hands-on way by placing them in situations they may never have been in before. By engaging emotions of the participants, it allows for the accounts expressed in the program to be truly effective.

At the end of the tour, participants are provided an opportunity to discuss their experiences with each other.

For more information or to schedule a time to walk through the tunnel, contact the Center for Multicultural Education, 816-271-4150 or email [email protected].