Act SJSU Summary of Rooms

2016-2017
Event Overview
Act SJSU, similar to Tunnel of Oppression, is a multi-sensory interactive experience for students to
explore various social justice issues. This experience is grounded in the understanding that inequities
exist within our communities and we experience our identities contextually within a system of power,
privilege, and oppression.

The theme for the 3rd annual Act SJSU event was Equity Over Equality. This event explores the
intersections of injustice within our communities by expanding participants awareness of where
equity is needed because promoting equality has not been enough. Participants will learn about
Islamophobia, Trans Inclusivity, Mental Health and Disabilities, and how FGCS navigate school, jobs,
and life.

Rooms:
1. America the Beautiful - Islamophobia and Racism (RAC D)
2. Trans 101 (RAC C)
3. Mental Health and Ableism (RAC A)
4. Classism and College Student Experiences (RAC B)
5. Debrief and Processing (LLC)

Act SJSU Event Layout

Learning Outcome:
Goal Three: LO1- Inclusive Communities: Residents will have opportunities to critically
examine identity (theirs/others) in relationship to their larger community/global environment.

Summary:
This space aims to challenge the idea of America. The notion that America is One nation under God,
indivisible with liberty and justice for all seems hard to fathom given the historical and present actions
taken by the countrys leadership. This experience brings awareness to the policies, executive orders,
and twitter messages promulgated within the United States. As a foil to these messages we offer
excerpts from the very documents the different message propose to either support or denounce
(Bible, Quran, U.S. Constitution etc.). We aim to help students engage in the discourse happening
around them.

Materials:
Printed messages
Laptop to stream a video
Total: Printing $400
Room Setup:
3 different areas of focus: Islamaphobia, Racism, and Immigration
Students will move forward through the room to experience the different areas.
In each area the student will be presented with a quote made by a member of the current
administration as well as correlating quotes (Bible, Quran, U.S. Constitution) and images.
There will be a video of a KKK cross burning playing on a loop at the front of the room.
o This recognizes that there has been a significant increase in Klan activity since the
current administration has taken office.
Room 2 - Addressing Transphobia and the Gender Binary (RAC D)
Engage participants by presenting information about what actually factors into gender identity, display
problematic norms associated with the gender binary, and engage participants in dialogue about the
trans community. These activities will expand their awareness of all that goes into gender and what it
is like to experience transphobia. While exiting the room, participants will enter a closet and exit the
other way. Around the walls will be quotes, stories, and factors that people consider before coming
out to people (this will focus on coming out as Trans). Participants will also view and reflect upon
information presented passively around the room to offer a fuller experience. Participants should have
a deeper understanding of gender, problematic norms associated with and how to support people
with disabilities after experiencing this room.

Learning Outcome:
Goal One - Learning Outcome 2 - Connectedness. Residents will engage in active and passive
experiences designed to learn about and celebrate the identities of themselves and others.

Summary:
This spaces aims to expand participants awareness of the Trans experience and the injustice facing
the Trans community, including a focus on increased inequity that persists at the margins of
intersecting identities. Participants will view posters of information and reflect upon the following
topics: What is Gender, 9 Actual Factors of Gender Identity, the Gender Unicorn, Gender Variance
Around the World, Terminology, Crime and Statistics, Transitioning, Pronouns, and the Coming Out
Process.

Materials:
Laptop to stream a video
Button making supplies for pronouns
Room 3 - Mental Health and Disability Awareness (RAC A)
Engage participants in experiential learning activities that expand their awareness of the Autism
spectrum and what it is like to experience psychosis. Participants will also view and reflect upon
information presented passively around the room to offer a fuller experience. Participants should have
a deeper understanding of mental health and how to support people with disabilities after
experiencing this room.

Learning Outcome:
Goal 1 - Learning Outcome 2 - Connectedness. Residents will engage in active and passive
experiences designed to learn about and celebrate the identities of themselves and others.

Summary:
Autism Simulation - students will be attempting to read something or engage in an activity
while being bombarded with a variety of sensory experiences. Students will then be asked to
share how it felt to try and focus while having these experiences.
Psychosis Simulation - a speaker will be playing random phrases/mumbling in the room, so
that students can experience what it might feel like to have to process and engage while
experiencing auditory hallucinations
Gallery Walk - Posters will be hanging around the room that provide facts and information
related to disabilities, ableism, and ability language

Supples:
Printed posters (once content has been created)
3 flashlights
3 feather dusters
a variety of noise makers (e.g. a whistle, clappers, kazoo, etc.)
One item with a strong smell (e.g. air freshener, potent food item, etc.)
Print outs of a short article/story students need to read while experiencing sensory overload
Chairs for students to sit in while experiencing autism simulation
Room 4 - Classism and FGCS (RAC CB)
Participants will expand their awareness of the impact that class can have on a college student's
career, with specific attention given to the obstacles facing First Generation College Students. This is
an experiential learning activity that culminates with self-reflective writing and large group dialogue.

Learning Outcome:
Goal Three: LO1- Inclusive Communities: Residents will have opportunities to critically
examine identity (theirs/others) in relationship to their larger community/global environment.

Summary:
As the student walks into the room, the room will look like a road map. There will be 3 different bios at
the entrance and the students will pick up one of them. Each one will be dedicated to a different class
and a bio of their experience (high class/middle class/low class). The road will represent the semester
and what happens along the way will be different events. Some things will be emergencies that pop
up as well. With emergencies there will be 5 resources offered. If a student is identified as low class
they will only be able to use 1 resource. If they identify as high class they can use all the resources.
Along the way there will also be thought provoking questions. At the end there will be paper to write
who they are and what theyve gone through. Chance to share.

Campus Partners: Educational Opportunity Program

Materials:
Printed messages
Black tape
Yellow tape

Room Setup:
Roadmap laid out with tape
Students walk through road to represent a year or a semester in the shoes of a student
identifying as a certain class classification.
Room 5 - LLC Processing Space
Participants will engage in a debrief dialogue, complete the post-survey (including an opportunity for
qualitative feedback), and reflect on their experience. Food and refreshments are provided for this space.

Debrief questions:
1. What are you still thinking about or what surprised you?
2. How do you FEEL after having experienced Act SJSU?
3. Did you learn anything about yourself? If so, what did you learn?
4. What do you now hope to learn more about in the future?
5. Now that you know, what will you do?