Generated and supported by the Kent State University at Trumbull Diversity Council, the 2015 edition of the Tunnel of Oppression will be displayed in the Theatre/Library Building from March 6-April 23, 2015.
The theme of the 2015 display, the seventh such to appear at Kent State Trumbull, is bystander intervention.
The term bystander effect was first coined by Darley and Latané in 1968 as the psychological phenomenon in which someone is less likely to intervene in an emergency situation when other people are present. An individual is more likely to help or become involved when he or she is alone. The most complex case of Bystander Intervention took place in 1964 with the murder of Kitty Genovese in NYC. Her case remains controversial. The role of the bystander is under considerable evaluation in terms of preventing sexual assault, domestic violence, terrorism, other harms or reducing the impact of harm. What role do we have as citizens to respond in some capacity to an emergency situation? What duty do we owe each other?
In conjunction with the 2015 theme, the Diversity Council is sponsoring a poster/art project contest. Posters or other mediums must address the theme and be submitted no later than March 5, 2015.
Submitted posters or projects must address one of the following themes on bystander intervention:
Themes (Recognition, Responses and Prevention):
- What compels someone to intervene? Or “What would you do?”
- “See Something, Say Something” or “Step Up and Speak Out” campaigns at Kent State University
- Good Samaritan laws
- “The Golden Rule” or the spiritual dimension, “I am my brothers/sisters keeper”
- The role of bystanders in preventing harm
- Types of interventions or responses and steps to intervening or “how to”
- Benefits and Barriers to intervening; the Diffusion of Responsibility; cultural norms dictating public behavior
- Gender issues in intervening, the role of Ethnicity and Race in bystander intervention
- The economics of intervening and not intervening
Criteria for evaluation:
- Overall power of the message
- Clarity and emotional tension
- Integrity, originality and creativity
Acceptable mediums or submission types:
- Mobiles
- Papers
- Posters: 11" x 17" to standard poster size 24" x 36"
- Collages, drawings & paintings
Judging will be conducted by members of the Diversity Council and/or affiliated members.
Prizes will be awarded as follows:
- First Place: Kent State University book or tote bag
- Second Place: Kent State University sweatshirt
- Third Place: Kent State University t-shirt
- Honorable mention (3): Kent State University ball cap
Contestants must be enrolled students at Kent State University at Trumbull at the time of the submission deadline. No digital submissions will be accepted. The deadline for submissions is March 5, 2015.
Posters should be submitted to Mary Wilson, Ph.D., via the Information Desk located inside the Classroom Building, and should include the submitter's name, street address, phone number and e-mail address. Questions regarding the Tunnel of Oppression should be directed to Mary Wilson, Ph.D.