Tunnel of Oppression

Latino Heritage Month 2010

Immigration Nation

Thursday, October 14^th

Tours from 12:30-2:30pm & 6-8pm

Room VC 2-110

Tunnel of Oppression: A Chance to See How Immigrants Feel

It’s one thing to hear something.

It’s one thing to see something.

And it’s one thing to feel something.

The tunnel of oppression, a successful event, gave a chance for Baruch students and faculty to experience the journey of how immigrants feel when they come to the United States of America. A country whose foundation was built by immigrants and run by immigrants gives almost no opportunity to those who want to come to this country for a better life. Arguably, about two-thirds of immigrants are able to come into this country with no problem but there are still some who cannot receive this opportunity.

The experience was both an emotional and educational journey. There were two difference scenes and two videos shown. The first video was about 11 illegal immigrants in 2004 were told to board a train from Mexico to Iowa and they were discovered dead. The train had no ventilation and the immigrants died of dehydration.

The first skit shown was about a professor who was detained because she invited to speak on her thesis which was about Islam. A security guard detained her accusing her of being illegal and trying to promote Islam.

The second monologue was about a man who left his family at his home country and has not seen them in three years. He prays every day that he could see his family and hope and faith in god keeps him driving to provide a better life for his family.

The last video was about Arizona’s new stance on immigration. The senate backed by former Vice President Dick Cheney wanted to tighten border security by 30,000 guards. They feel that immigrants were taken over their jobs and livelihood.

Baruch College hopes to encourage young people to create dialogues amongst the Baruch community about  the harsh realities that some immigrants face and hopefully motivate some to take it to the next level. A bigger problem that the United States faces today is whether it is fair to refuse some immigrants but allow safe passage for others.

-Arunna Raj