A stethoscope, a pair of crutches and a hospital gown hangs on a wooden stand beneath a sign telling the story of Jon, a 27-year-old spina bifida patient who has been in a coma for six months.

This display is one of many symbolic representations in the Love, Sex, and Relationships room of the 2007 Tunnel of Oppression in HUB-Heritage Hall.

The sign relays a dispute between Jon's parents, who want to remove their son from life support, and his life partner, who wants to give him more time to fight.

Because the partnership is not legally recognized, Jon's partner has no authority in the decision, and so he will be taken off of life support within a week.

Domestic violence, gender roles, interracial dating and sexual assault are among the other issues addressed in the area.

This year's Tunnel of Oppression, sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs and constructed by more than 20 student and university groups, focuses on the dynamics of power and privilege.

Five other rooms in the multi-sensory museum focus on exploring forms of oppression in areas including education, business, employment and labor, government, globalization and land, and places and spaces.

Video clips, cartoons, quotes, photographs, visual statistics and various other forms of media line the walls and floors of each room.

Rachel Helwig, program coordinator of international student services and volunteer for the exhibit, said she is pleased with the final result of the tunnel as well as the reaction to it.

"Its amazing to see students' faces as they walk through. You can really see how much it affects people," she said.

Diana Perillo (senior-psychology) said while the exhibit is depressing, she is glad she saw it.

"I never really thought of all the ways people can be oppressed because I am not directly affected by most of them," she said. "It's eye-opening."

Some professors and instructors are requiring their students to visit the exhibit as an assignment or are walking through the tunnel with them during class time.

Nancy Vanessa Vicente, a graduate student in education, said the exhibit is both important and educational.

She is also requiring her students to walk through the tunnel this week.

"They are going out to the real world soon," she said of her students.

"They need to see different perspectives and hear stories that might otherwise be silenced by our society," she added.

Penn State faculty and professors will also be giving verbal presentations on some of the issues addressed in the tunnel at Heritage Hall throughout the week.

The tunnel will be open today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and tomorrow through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.