Students simulate real-world crisis, learn its complexities

KENNESAW, Ga. (Mar 21, 2018) — A flurry of students mingled in circles based on political allegiances, identities and objectives, proposing ideas of how to best address the latest sub-scenario presented to them.

A group of five, portraying refugees, express outrage at being separated from the other students that are portraying townspeople at dinner time. Not to mention, they are only given one bag of Lay’s Original Potato Chips.

The School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Development, in conjunction with Trends Global, put on a simulation for students and alumni from March 9-10.

The simulation was created by Dr. Volker Franke, Shea Holland, Cortney Stewart and Lina Tuschling with the title “Refugees, Religions, and Resistance: A European Mass Migration Crisis Simulation.”

“This simulation replaced one that Dr. [Sherrill] Hayes has taken students to for the past five years,” Franke said in an email. “We decided to try an in-house simulation to look for a more cost-effective way to engage a larger number of graduate students and alumni.”

The simulation placed graduate students, Ph.D. students, an undergraduate student and alumni in the shoes of real-world people that have a direct role in handling the refugee crisis.

Read full story at The Sentinel:
http://ksusentinel.com/2018/03/12/students-simulate-real-world-crisis-learn-its-complexities/