Tunnel of Oppression

It always feels good to see a project through start to finish. After weeks of sending executive board members to planning meetings and designing visuals and concepts, Sustained Dialogue’s involvement in Tunnel of Oppression is finally a reality! Sustained Dialogue is the student organization that takes up most of my time and love. Our aim is to promote and educate people about the importance of inclusive communities, and how these can be constructed and sustained through dialogue.

A little background on Tunnel of Oppression (with permission from Ms. Phenocia Bauerle): Tunnel of Oppression is an interactive event that highlights contemporary issues of oppression. It is designed to introduce participants to the concepts of oppression, privilege, and power. Participants are guided through a series of scenes or exhibits that aim to educate and challenge them to think more deeply about issues of oppression. At the end of the tour, participants are provided with the opportunity to discuss their experiences with each other. Facilitators help participants reflect on their experiences and put their newfound knowledge to use in their everyday lives.

Sustained Dialogue’s room is a representation of the oppression surrounding identity. Along with advertisement and information about our semi-annual De-Stereotype Me Day (happening this week as well), we have created an environment that allows people to understand the ways in which they judge other people’s identities and the ways that others judge theirs. On the walls are photos of random MSU students and questions such as “What do you think this student is majoring in?” “Do you think this student is a first-generation college student?” “Do you think this student comes from a wealthy background?” etc. Paper covers a table in the middle of the room with markers with which people can write down their initial reactions based on the images. On another wall are images of the memes that have littered facebook, twitter and Pinterest this semester. They show generalizations and cultural perceptions for groups like ‘writers,’ ‘science students,’ ‘yogis,’ ‘vegetarians,’ ‘Republicans,’ and ‘Mexicans.’ Mirrors are propped up around the entire display to remind participants how they see themselves and how others see them.

Other groups involved include American Indian Council, Baha’i Campus Club, Counseling and Psychological Services, Diversity Awareness Office, Family and Graduate Housing, Interhall RHA., NECO, Queer-Straight Alliance, Residence Life – Diversity and Social Justice Committee, Students Against Sexual Assault, Students for Choice, Students for Life, Students in spring Sculpture classes, The VOICE Center, and The Women’s Center.

Take the tour! Come to Tunnel of Oppression!

Presidents All Around!

Happy President’s Day Weekend! I know I speak for all students when I say this university holiday was a much needed one. For those of you who have no classes on Friday or Tuesday, then all the more congratulations on your four-day weekend. If you only get Monday off, still count yourself lucky. Some universities don’t take this Monday off. For example, our good friends at the University of Texas at El Paso had school yesterday. (It should be noted that while UTEP does not observe President’s Day, they do take Cesar Chavez Day as a school holiday).

This week is special for more reason than shortened class days, however. This week is the capstone of the ASMSU Presidential campaign; the surrendering of the sector, the changing of the guard, the passing of the torch. You get it. Last week in the presidential primary, four pairs of candidates were whittled down to two, with my good friend and fellow student Kiah Abbey winning the primary by an overwhelming margin. I believe she received 501 votes and the second place finisher received only 168. Do these numbers seem low to you? They are. Although it was only a primary election, only 6.1% of the student body voted. While the results seem to paint a pretty clear picture as to the voice of the student body, it is still pretty sad that students don’t take the time to directly impact the choosing of their student leaders. This is no Electoral College system. You vote directly for the candidate you think would best represent and fight for your needs and wants.

Tomorrow the real voting begins in earnest. The candidates are Jesse Cook and Brian Murakami , and Kiah Abbey and Lindsay Murdock. To read more about each of the candidates and their vision for Montana State University, click here.

It’s the week of Presidents! Make your voice heard!

The Ultimate Montana Mashup!

Well ladies and gentlemen, the moment has arrived. Competitive skijoring has made its way to the Big Sky State. What is skijoring, you ask? As a girl with mostly a ‘water in its liquid state,’ upbringing, it was described to me as waterskiing without the water. For all of you with a ‘water in its solid state’ upbringing, it is simply being towed on your skis by a horse, a dog (or dogs), or a motorized vehicle. Last weekend, I was lucky enough to catch a ride down to the 320 Guest Ranch just south of Big Sky, where the 2012 Skijoring Competition was held. These particular festivities utilized the equestrian method of transportation; the day was a combination of rodeo and cross country skiing. Montana natives: you all now have an outlet for your horse obsession as well as your skiing obsession! Are you getting excited yet?

Each run is timed. Skiers get paired up with a horse and rider and then get towed through the course, navigating slalom gates and jumps. Obviously, the objective is to complete the course in the shortest time, while earning points for making the jumps and getting through the gates. Extra points for costumes, losing a ski and finishing the course, perfect form, and once in a while, epic face plants.  Cash prizes for winners! If this sounds like your cup of tea, mark your calendars for next year. You can enter in a rider/skier team or individually and get paired with someone later. Not only is this an awesome sport, but not many people have heard of it; now you have an awesome story to share at a party. Bam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things MSU Students Say

This week I became a slave to trends, namely, the YouTube phenomenon involving short videos filled with phrases and common sayings and idioms from different cultural, ethnic, and social groups. I have compiled a list of THINGS MSU STUDENTS SAY below. If you have any suggestions, be sure to leave a comment! Enjoy.

How many days do you have under your belt?

I remember the first time I had to find an upstairs office in Willson.

Guess what? My Bridger pass is $200 less than yours because I’m still 18.

Totally ate it on the Mall today.

Sweet Chaco tan bro.

Sweet goggle tan bro.

What do you mean you don’t have 4 wheel drive? I’m confused.

Are you going to recycle that?

I’m not buying groceries this week; I had to replace my bindings.

We have frats here?

Let’s meet in the SUB

Wanna go to the Winter Farmer’s Market?

I’m bored. Let’s see what’s happening at the Emerson

I think I left it at the Molly…

If I don’t shoot something soon, I might go insane. I’m craving some elk.

I’ve never actually been in Montana Hall, have you? I need to order transcripts

Are you going to EWB tonight?

Will you watch my dog while I’m in physics?

Dude did you do the MatLab homework yet? No, I can’t figure out how to enter my matrix.

I feel like I spend more time on campus than at my house.

Reid didn’t smell gross this morning? That’s new.

What’s the hatch biting these days?

Gosh this weather is prime. Maybe I’ll shed some of my layers!