UCO students, faculty and staff will have a unique opportunity next week to experience nine years in the life of someone living in poverty through a simulation being conducted by sociology professor Amanda Miller.
During the simulation, called “The Perils of Poverty,” student participants will get a character portfolio, which, according to Miller, will give them information about their families, years of education, and occupational prospects.
“They will then decide how to invest their limited time: in recreation, welfare, education, work, hustling, or by working with others to make their neighborhoods safer,” she said in an email. “Their efforts combined with random instances of good—and bad—luck will help determine their pathways.”
According to Miller, the simulation was designed by Dr. Charles Petranek from the University of Southern Indiana as a way for groups to learn more about some of the challenging choices that low income individuals experience and difficulty of getting out of poverty permanently.
“The Institute of Hope here at UCO will be utilizing it to help spread awareness about the lived experiences of low-income Americans as part of our spring mission,” she said.
The simulation will be conducted on March 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the Liberal Arts building, room 128, and March 8 at 2:00 p.m. in LAR room 211. Interested parties can sign up to participate at room 211b, though space is limited.