This week, members of the Eastern community can participate in events like the Wall of Oppression that revolve around global social issues during Social Justice and Diversity Week.

Kristina Bultema, head of the Social Justice and Diversity Committee in the Residence Hall Association and a senior psychology major, said the purpose of the Wall of Oppression is to unite students and overcome our differences.

“The Wall of Oppression allows students to come together and display hateful words that have affected their life and educate others on how different words can really hurt someone,” Bultema said.

Students had the opportunity to paint bricks with hateful words March 24 thru 25, and the Wall of Oppression will be assembled today in the Library Quad.

The Wall of Oppression will be displayed throughout the week and it will be torn down on Thursday at noon.

Bultema said they will tie ropes to the wall and anyone is welcome to help tear down the Wall of Oppression.

“Hate separates us and you will be able to see how people are hurt and offended by hateful words,” Bultema said. “Tearing down the wall symbolizes how we want to tear down all walls of oppression that people are trapped by.”

Bultema said the week this year is different than previous years because the Social Justice and Diversity Committee is putting on more events.

“Usually the committee just does the Wall of Oppression and then just hosts the other events, but this year we are playing a bigger role,” Bultema said.

Different events are scheduled throughout the week to promote diversity awareness.

The Social Justice and Diversity Committee is hosting Charity Bingo in the Seventh Street Underground in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union 7 p.m. today.

Bultema said the purpose of Charity Bingo is to raise money for Destination for Polio that is an organization that provides Polio vaccinations to people in India and other third-world countries that are in need of the vaccine.

“A polio shot costs 50 cents and we ask for a $2 donation from each participant who attends bingo, which means that each person can provide four people in need with a vaccine that could save their life.”

Following Charity Bingo, there will be a screening of the movie “Crash” at 9 p.m. in the Buzzard Auditorium.

“We chose the movie because it deals with a lot of important social issues that are a part of Social Justice and Diversity Week like racism and poverty and it sends a good message that everyone can relate to,” Bultema said.

On Tuesday, the Latin American Student Organization will present a panel discussion on immigration issues at 7 p.m. in the Phipps Auditorium in the Physical Science building.

Thursday at 7 p.m. Tea Time with AIDEN, a presentation and discussion on transgender issues, is scheduled in the Lumpkin Auditorium.

On Friday, there will be a closing lunch in the Taylor Dining Center at noon.

Rachel Rodgers can be reached at 581-2812 or rjrodgers@eiu.edu.