Some Penn State students recently experienced racism for the first time.

Krystal Farr, a resident assistant of the Brandy Camp House in McElwain Hall, conducted an experiment in racism in which residents wore colored patches that represented a class status: Orange represented the upper class, purple the middle class and green the lower class.

"I didn't want to use the colors we associate with people's skin like red, black and white," Farr said.

The women played the game to learn what it feels to be a non-white citizen of the United States.

Farr got the idea from an experiment conducted in April 1968 called the The Eye of the Storm. Third grade teacher Jane Elliot taught her all-white class about racism by creating a class system based on eye color.

Monitors made sure everyone complied with the rules and determined the promotion or demotion from a color.

"Oranges had complete power, but no one had to do what they said. I was curious to see who would listen to the oranges and who would take a stand," Farr said.

She decided that because the people on her floor have such diverse backgrounds, the experiment would teach them how to respect other cultures by experiencing them.

"The girls were very excited and eager," Farr said. "However, I don't know if they were eager because it was a cool game or because they knew the true implications of the game."

Twenty-five out of the 40 women on the floor participated.

"We have the opportunity to close our eyes and believe it's not true, but the program made me open my eyes," said Tammy Mehaffey (freshman-enviromental resource management), who was green.

Even the floor was colored-coded. Each shower, sink, toilet and water fountain distinguished who was privileged to use specific facilities. The upper classes had more shower stalls than the lower classes.

"I have people who have broken down, some who said they weren't going to take it anymore and some who have taken on an attitude that they are going to show the other person how it feels to be in the minority," Farr said.

And participants got involved in the game, even though it only lasted a day.

"I was suprised how serious some of the girls took this -- the fact that an orange made a green do push-ups and then not let a girl wear hair spray one day," said Ellen van Snik (senior-biology), an orange participant.

Some wore signs on their doors reading, "proud to be purple." Others would erase the messages and write "don't you wish you were green."

At times, the distinctions caused tension during the experiment.

"An orange told a green to get a glass of water, and she said 'I'm a green, not a slave,' " said van Snik.

Tricia Daniel (junior-administration of justice), an orange, said she used her power to educate. But she said others may have had trouble listening to her -- not because of her colored circle, but because of her race.

"I think people had a problem with me being black -- and not being an orange -- and taking orders from me." Daniel said. "It was easier for me to give them a feeling of what it feels like to be discriminated against because I am black and because I already know what it feels like to be a green."

Farr noted that some people were picked on unfairly.

"This is good, because feelings stick with people," Farr said. "I hope they take that feeling and apply it to other people and grow with it.

For some, the agony was worth the learning experience.

"I thought I knew a lot about what is going on, but you only understand when you experience it," said Kara Kianese (freshman-human development and family studies), who was a green. "We had a choice to be the lower class people, but black people don't have a choice."