Show Tears Down The Wall of Oppression Aaron S. S Torres Diversity About two weeks ago Peer Leadership Council engaged in a project called The Writing on the Wall symbolizing hatred and oppression students might experience during their lives Painting brick by brick students and faculty fac helped with the construction of this wall Words such as Hate Pain even Student Fees were creatively painted on the bricks I painted Segregate because of the discrimination that still exists in today's so society said Melissa Yuen a Student Peer Leader at the Redwood Campus The painting of the bricks took place the fourth week of March In order to promote this project special speakers were also invited for a panel discussion the following week Topics such as Diversity Segregation and Discrimination were brought up in the discussion Mildred Sparks a educator in Developmental Education shared her experiences experiences experiences with segregation remembering her childhood years in Alabama Separate but totally unequal was the treatment every black person was receiving those days said Sparks She also recalls her participation participation participation pation in the Civil Rights Movement from 1960 1950 especially in the Montgomery Movement which Sparks attended every session My people were oppressed but not depressed Sparks concluded sending out the message that today's generation is the one to make history change regarding the segregation that still is present present present pre pre- sent in society Gordon Storrs was another guest invited to participate inthis inthis in inthis this discussion Storrs is the advisor for the Coloring Outside the Lines Association This club addresses the issues concerning concerning concerning concern concern- ing gay straight and lesbian students at A gay person lives in fear of rejection and how others may react said Storrs He talked about how this oppressive oppressive oppressive sive environment is even encouraged through the media and enhanced by a society with a lack of diversity diversi diversi- ty and openness Edith Mitko director of the Governors Governor's Office of Asian Affairs was the third guest Mitko told the story of her parents during the war with Japan Her parents See Wall continued on page 8 t r e z n r 1 F t ta a CI Q J JC C X CX r m Q Students and Faculty built the Writing on the Wall project to symbolize hatred and oppression felt during their lives The wall was torn down Monday Freedom continued from front being of Japanese descent had to tobe tobe tobe be relocated from their house and workplace during the war so they could be observed for any kind of espionage According to Mitko not only families and adults were sent to relocation centers but also children children children chil chil- dren from orphanages j These Japanese orphans were taking away from their foster parents parents parents par par- and homes said Mitko For her this was an unjustified act of Homeland Security After achieving a total of bricks the wall was built in front of the Library at the Redwood Redwood- Redwood Campus wall This This is vall symbolizes all the negative feel feel- ings of students and how oppression oppression oppression sion has affected them said Kristin Beck coordinator of the Redwood Peer Leadership Council The tearing down of the wall took place on April l 11 II l at noon As the students pulled the strings attached to the wall it crumbled causing a big bang After the site of the wall was cleaned up the Asian Awareness Association put puta a stand with 1000 paper cranes representing peace and hope over oppression This concluded the 2005 Writing on the Wall Vall project For more information about different different different dif dif- dif dif- ferent projects and events contact the Thayne Center for Learning and Service by calling or logging on to its is webs te- te vw v. at kC cc eq Yr M r. r AH An Alli volunteers volunteers' ate ale are welcome |