SAUL LOEB/Arizona Daily Wildcat Philosophy sophomore Crystal Missimer sits in a mock dorm room as part of a Tunnel of Oppression skit about the perfect ÷ or not-so-perfect ÷ body image for girls Tuesday night in Kaibab-Huachuca Residence Hall. The Tunnel of Oppression ends tonight.

"God hates you, faggot. You queer, you'll burn in hell," a cluster of enraged protesters screamed at students who were walking down a dark walkway.

Some students began walking briskly to escape the yelling; others smirked nervously. One protester shouted, "What the fuck are you laughing at, you freak of nature?"

The students filed into a basement area where they witnessed an abusive boyfriend push and slap his girlfriend for studying with a male friend.

"You're such a slut ÷ look how you're dressed. I bet your friend likes those trashy clothes," raged the boyfriend, as he violently threw books across the room.

After seeing several scenes depicting racism, body image-problems and violence, the majority of students were straight-faced and numb with reality.

But the protesters were actors.

The fifth-annual Tunnel of Oppression began Tuesday at Kaibab-Huachuca Residence Hall, 922 E. 4th St.

The walk-through exhibit of scenarios, images and statistics is an in-your-face portrayal of the violence and prejudice some people experience every day.

"I thought there would just be pictures, not live scenes," said undeclared freshman John Furrier, after viewing the Tunnel of Oppression for the first time. "It put it on a more personal level. No one can say that they cannot relate to the scenes."

Many of the students found the scene depicting a Nazi gas chamber extremely powerful.

"Get in there, rats! Breathe deep!" guards dressed like Nazis shouted, as they shoved people into a small, pitch-black room. A slow, sharp hiss grabbed the group's attention. "You have just been executed for your religious beliefs," read a sign on the wall.

Before entering the dark room, one student taking the tour was so frightened by the guards' force and yelling in her face that she broke down in tears and fell to the ground.

The Tunnel of Oppression is created by the Department of Residence Life's El Mundo Diversity Committee to promote awareness of violence and prejudice, and to challenge individuals to re-think their own stereotypes.

Sarah Whittington, a nutrition junior, was given a pink triangle, a mark used by Nazis to identify homosexuals during the Holocaust.

"When I found out what my label meant, I immediately recalled the gas chamber scene and I could relate more personally to the Holocaust," Whittington said.

"Slut," "bitch," "spic," "oreo," "retarded," were all words posted on the hallways. "Halloween fun," read a message posted above an image of a man dressed up as a Klu Klux Klan member with a rope around the neck of a black person.

"I was surprised by the intensity of the scenes," Furrier said.

Most of the students, who had never been to the Tunnel of Oppression, said the scenes were shocking.

The guided exhibit of 10 scenes takes approximately 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute discussion group in wich students can express their feelings.

"The frightening thing is that we've been desensitized by the violence. Most of the scenes didn't surprise me much," said Logan Hall, a media arts sophomore.

Approximately 350 people went through the Tunnel of Oppression on opening night. Last year, more than 900 people went through the tunnel.

"We've had a very good turnout," said Jessamyn Salter, a pre-medical technology freshman and volunteer hostess.

The Tunnel of Oppression will run tonight for the last time this year, from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Individuals are welcome at any time, though waits can be up to an hour. Reservations are suggested for groups of five or more.