Mursion at Weber

Three professors used simulated role playing in classes in November 2020. Some of the simulations were provided by St. Leo University, but two needed to be written for a Communication class. Dr. Susan Hafen worked with Saint Leo's simulation specialists to write the following simulation. She said it took 2 to 3 hours of work.

College Counseling Scenario

Tony is a (Hispanic, male) senior, majoring in Digital Media Communication. He has missed a lot of classes and assignments due to starting up his own video and social media company and he wants to explore VR technology. His classes seem like a waste of time, especially trying to pass the required math classes and several gen ed classes that he failed. He also wants to get out of Utah and go to LA where he will have more opportunities and the population is more diverse.

He doesn’t think his teachers are as supportive of him and his work and perspective as they are of other, more traditional (white, LDS) students. Tony’s parents--who did not graduate from college, live in Arizona, and have been using their savings to send their son to college--have told Tony that if he drops out and wastes all this college tuition, they will not support him. Tony thinks he will be fine and will someday be able to sell his start-up company for millions. But, since he has complained about lack of support from some faculty, his tough classes, and his inability to focus on school work, they have insisted that he see a college counselor about getting help to stay in school and graduate.

Tony thinks his parents are not being fair to him and keep comparing him to his older brother, who got a scholarship and graduated two years ago and is now working at a bank. He is not like his brother. But he promised to see a counselor before he quit school (or they would not send him any money this month for living expenses.)

Leanne [the roleplayer] is a new college counselor hired to focus specifically on students struggling academically.

Instructions for Tony avatar:

Tony thinks Leanne is just plugging for the university to keep students’ tuition. He wonders if his parents have in fact called her to get her on “their side.” He doesn’t think she, as a white woman, understands how difficult it is for students like him when he doesn’t feel as welcome here. In fact a year ago one of his classmates asked him if he was from Mexico and suggested that he make his videos in Spanish, and he doesn’t even speak Spanish!

persuasion scenario

Jennifer is a (White, female) 20-year-old junior who has made statements in her Communication class that indicate that she has a liberal point of view (supports Black Lives Matter, liked Obama as President, and thinks Congress needs to do something about the increased homelessness and poverty in America).

Raphael [the roleplayer] belongs to the College Democrats of America and he wants Jennifer to join and help in the local campaigns of the Utah Democratic Party, in particular the campaign of Chris Peterson who is running for Governor.

Jennifer is an Honors student and doesn’t think she has time to devote to any extracurricular activities. Plus, even though she identifies as being a “moderate liberal,” she has never voted before and her parents are conservative Republicans. She lives at home and doesn’t think they would want her devoting her time to causes they don’t believe in–and are a “lost cause” in Utah anyway.

Raphael believes that the younger demographics of Utah could radically change things in this state if college students would just vote, especially liberals like Jennifer who aren’t trying to do anything to create change.

Instructions for Jennifer avatar:

Jennifer is feeling pressured by Raphael, who she really likes but thinks he doesn’t understand what it is like to try to keep her GPA up for Honors. He is just an average students and doesn’t have the same aspirations she does for graduate school, so it is fine for him to donate his time to causes. He also doesn’t have conservative parents who will not like it if she lets them know that is what she is volunteering for instead of spending time on her studies. She has already cut down her hours working at Burger King in order to focus on school.