March 24, 2015 Simulation Challenges Students to Face Everyday Obstacles of the Poor by Sascha Raiyn Other
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VOL. XLIV, No. 20 March 24, 2015 Simulation challenges students to face everyday obstacles of the poor By Sascha Raiyn other. There was a pawnshop, a home- their kids up on time. Some people News Editor less shelter a cash-and go business. were getting in trouble with social Last week students had the chance There was a transportation pass that services or with the police depart- to experience what life is like for had to be purchased and given to each ment for child neglect because they people struggling through poverty. business or service. It represented the couldn’t pick their kids up on time The Office of Metropolitan Im- cost of a bus ride or car trip for some. or they couldn’t get to them. They pact hosted a 2-day Poverty Simu- For others it represented the time got stuck in line somewhere else.” lation. Using Kochoff Hall as its it took to walk to work or school or They would just get stressed. The city, the simulation put 120 students somewhere else. Even if a student had Missouri Association for Commu- in the shoes of an impoverished been sent to the wrong place, the cost nity Action designed the simulation. family for an accelerated month. had to be taken from the transit pass. They provide a kit that includes the “(The goal was) to have students family profiles, play money, trans- realize how frustrating and how chal- “One little thing can portation passes and other accessories lenging all the intricacies of living in to realize the simulated community. poverty really are, and how there’s re- just put everything The city was run by student volun- ally not a simple solution,” said OMI teers and volunteers from the OMI’s program coordinator Molly Manley. out of order.” Public Allies Cohort. Manley said Students were assigned profiles that volunteers reported that the simu- included their age, income, ethnic- The experience was designed to illus- lation was also difficult for them. ity, work status and family unit. Pro- trate how many obstacles there are for Even pretending to be human ser- files varied from a single 80 year old poor people and how difficult it can be vice agencies without enough re- man to a family of 5 with an infant to navigate around them even with help. sources was frustrating, they reported. a family of siblings with no parents. “Students were very surprised at “It really helps you to realize Each was given a budget and told to how hard it was,” Manley said. “They that things are a lot more compli- survive for a month.The city includ- were surprised by how stressful it cated than they seem,” said Man- ed schools that parents had to make was. ”“They would say ‘so you have ley. “ Even when you try to do the sure children attended, homes where to go to work, you have to go make right thing it’s not always the easiest rent and utilities had to be paid, and all these payments, we have to get thing for them and it’s not always the mouths that had to be fed. The students our kids from school, we have to go things that gets them over the edge.” had to interact with businesses, so- buy groceries.’ You could see people OMI plans to stage the poverty cial service agencies, police and each struggling because they couldn’t pick simulation for students every year. UM-Dearborn introduces new degrees, majors this fall Business studies provides security for liberal arts By Sascha Raiyn pursue,” Wells said. “It’s News Editor taking it to the next level.” Liberal arts majors may This kind of program is soon be able to gain more se- rare Wells said. When the col- curity in the job market and a leges were researching it they better chance at winning an only found three other schools argument with their parents. that offer something similar. This fall the Univer- “The broad training sity of Michigan-Dearborn and wide exposure from lib- will offer a second major eral arts and humanities, to some liberal arts stu- coupled with the practical dents – business studies. skills offered through busi- The major is a prod- ness, is a very powerful uct of a collaboration be- combination,” Martin Her- tween the College of Arts, shock, the dean of CASL Sciences and Letters and told UM-Dearborn’s reporter. the College of Business. Hershock said the second Susan Wells, the under- major gives students and po- graduate program director tential employers the chance for the College of Business to “break out of the box a bit.” said the second major is de- He said the communication, signed to give liberal arts research and critical think- event for incoming students. Students can choose to fol- Photo Courtesy of rebellesociety.com students the opportunity to ing skills developed in the “As I was talking to a low one of four tracks: com- pursue their passions while liberal arts could add a new student who was undecided munications, economics, psy- “It gives them the gaining the skills and creden- dimension when applied to and her mother, their eyes chology or general business. tials to compete for a wider traditional business positions. lit up when I mentioned “That really sets it apart opportunities in the ad- range of jobs. Students will He also said he is find- business studies,” he said. from other schools,” Wells said. supplement their liberal arts ing that combining the two “The mom immediately Business Studies is education with training in areas is providing a sense of saw a tangible path to a ca- a second major, not a de- ministrative end of what- business and management. comfort to both parents and reer. The student saw some- gree. Students can’t choose “It gives them the op- students. He spoke about thing that would appease it alone. It will be offered ever they pursue.” portunities in the adminis- the new business studies her parents and still allow at UM-Dearborn begin- trative end of whatever they second major at a recent her to focus on her passion.” ning in the fall of 2015. New degrees continued on page 2 March 24, 2015 The Michigan Journal / 2 News Vol. XLIV, No. 20 New degrees, majors coming in the fall, cont. CASL announces new applied New child’s life degree puts statistics major specialists on the front lines The College of Arts, Sci- pharmaceutical industries.” where people want to keep ences and Letters will launch CASL Associate Dean track of stuff…Applied sta- with traumatized children a new undergraduate degree Michael Lachance said ap- tistics programs give stu- in applied statistics this fall. This fall the College of Ed- child and their parents, their includes courses in health, The degree will expand “Our research shows the ucation, Health and Human teachers, and their health- education, child develop- upon a minor offered by the Services will offer a Bachelor care providers,” said CE- ment and family as well Department of Mathemat- job market for statisticians of Arts degree in child’s life. HHS Dean Janine Janosky. as clinical experience with ics and Statistics. Depart- The program will train She said specialists will be certified child specialists. ment chair Jennifer Zhao will grow another 40 percent students to be child’s life trained to create collabora- Child specialists may work said the program responds specialists working to re- tions between educational, in health, social service or to an increased demand for through 2020” duce the negative impact health and human services educational organizations. statistics training by both of traumatic and stressful that allow children to ex- “UM-Dearborn trained students and employers. plied statistics is a smart dents the practical tools and events on children coping press and understand their Child’s Life professionals “Our research shows the choice, because the skills skills they need to be suc- with serious health issues. emotions during experi- will be on the front lines of job market for statisticians are needed in every industry. cessful in the workforce.” “Child life specialists ences like hospitalization. protecting lifetime health will grow another 40 percent “If you have that statis- The applied statis- work with children liv- UM-Dearborn’s program through their intervention through 2020,” Zhao said. tics base, you can help any tics major requires 24 ing with serious chronic or is one of only three child and service during vulner- “Particularly in market re- other discipline,” Lachance credit hours of content at acute medical conditions, specialist training programs able periods in a child’s de- search and ‘big data’ analy- said. “You can help al- the 300- and 400-level. by interacting with the in Michigan. The program velopment,” Janosky said. sis, and in the medical and most any other enterprise The Michigan Journal is beginning to hire for the 2015-2016 school year! All positions are available. Email a resume and two writing samples to [email protected] or [email protected] We put out every Tuesday! Check us out online! www.michiganjournal.org @michiganjournal The Michigan Journal Student Publication of The University of Michigan-Dearborn 4901 Evergreen Rd. University Center Suite 2130 Dearborn, MI 48128 [email protected] Editor-In-Chief Savannah Rheinhart Managing Editor Tyesha Vinson Copy Editor Melissa Levesque News Editor Sascha Raiyn Sports Editor Ricky Lindsay Opinions Editor Laura Sanchez Arts and Entertainment Editor Monica Sabella Student Life Editor Ghadeer Alaradi Web Editor DeAndre McDay Photo Editor Rebecca Gallagher Advertising Manager Angela Melendez Business Manager Kevin Landwehr Adviser Tim Kiska March 24, 2015 The Michigan Journal / 3 Vol.