“People think they know me when they see the shape of my eyes,” reads an anonymous post from a Korean-American from Ball State University describing discrimination she has experienced.

This is just an example of 14 monologues that will be featured in Saturday’s showing of “Let’s Talk About Discrimination.”

Put together by seniors Chelsey Everhart and Dominic Schiferl, the performance will describe different students’ encounters with discrimination.

The idea developed as part of a class project in which students were to “make a creation that could serve society well and create change,” Schiferl said.

Everhart and Schiferl decided to create a show modeled after last year’s “Let’s Talk About Sex.” They asked for anonymous stories detailing any and all types of discrimination that students have encountered.

The two said they chose to focus on discrimination because they saw it as one of the biggest problems facing society today.

“Most people will agree that discrimination isn’t as bad as it once was,” Schiferl said. “But it’s still really prevalent and our stories only prove it. A lot of discrimination is subtle these days.”

The eight actors performing cover all sides of discrimination from the subtle to the not-so-subtle. The stories range from a slightly humorous take on a girl who works at Ace Hardware to the intense telling of a hate crime due to a student’s sexual orientation.

“Discrimination wears many hats,” Everhart said. “It’s not just one thing.”

Though Everhart or Schiferl have never been directly discriminated against, they said they have friends who have been.

“When it hurts a friend it hurts you too,” Everhart said.

Freshman Katie Stofko plays three roles in the show. At one of the rehearsals, she said Everhart mentioned something about the way people discriminate that really stuck with her.

“We discriminate everyday whether we know it or not,” Stofko said. “It’s surprising that there’s so many different ways to discriminate. Everyday we’re discriminating; we’re judging; we’re making assumptions.”

“Let’s Talk About Discrimination” will take place in Pruis Hall on Saturday at 9 p.m. The show is free.

“Think before you act,” Everhart said.  “You don’t know people’s stories.  Come with an open mind and leave with an open heart.”

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Lindsey Gelwicks | Staff Reporter