Muleskinner

Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: News

Beyond words­- Betsy Vile, freshman (front right) and other UCM students read facts about race and discrimination during the 45-minute Beyond Words tour.

The ability to walk in someone else's shoes is more than just metaphoric for Central students this week. Those who attended Beyond Words 2007 experienced discrimination first-hand by walking through a 45-minute interactive tour.

The tour includes many groups commonly discriminated against, such as women, minorities, homosexuals, disabled, ill, obese and persons of low socio economic status. The purpose of the event is to create a better awareness of the oppression many people face, said Eugene Stillman, interim director of community engagement.

"[The tour] uses over-the-top theatrics because some people are blind to what actually happens," said Lee Rivers, graduate assistant for the Office of Community Engagement. "Actually experiencing [discrimination] has a deeper understanding than just being aware that it goes on."

The interactive tour began in the Elliot Student Union Ballroom. It first required students to select a nametag, which was facedown on a table in the back of the room. Andre Brown, graduate assistant for the Office of Community Engagement, instructed the participants of the rules before they were allowed to look at the nametag. He told them they were all equal, and they should fully assume the identity of the name on the card.

Each card had basic information about the persona the participant was supposed to assume, such as name, age, income and a brief explanation of the person's situation. Those who were blind were blindfolded and those who were paralyzed were directed to use a wheelchair. Once everyone looked over their nametags, they were individually directed into an adjoining room based on the information on their cards.

The room was made to simulate a bank, in which the participants all wanted to apply for a loan. There were rows of tables outlined in white tape. Those who are commonly stereotyped, such as the foreigners, the obese or people infected with AIDS were placed in the back of the room, far behind the white tape.

The volunteers who assumed the identities of bank employees and police officers heavily chastised them. Others who were disabled and placed inside the white line were also chastised, but allowed to fill out the loan application. This exercise lasted for about 25 minutes, after which the participants were directed to enter another adjoining room.

Continued...

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