WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsUTC Poly Sci Students Take-on Health Care Reform

UTC Poly Sci Students Take-on Health Care Reform

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WRCB-TV) - A nondescript classroom in UTC's Fletcher Hall became the US House of Representatives on Tuesday as students got a hands-on lesson in political science. The issue: heath care reform. It is a heated national debate which had not crossed many student radar screens until now.

"It doesn't affect me yet," said Ashley Thomas. "My parents sent me an email last week saying, 'send us your class schedule so we can get you healthcare,' because it's out of my hands."

"I never really paid much attention to politics or the issues because that's not really my thing," admitted Alexandra Neal. Especially when you get in fights about it around the table."

Dr. Bob Swansborough challenged his students to assume the roles of actual representatives in the 111th Congress. They developed member profiles, studied their home districts, election returns and members' leanings left or right.

"When they play the role of somebody and look into the issues and then have to stand up and talk and maybe get emotional in terms of representing the issues and how they feel about it, I think it's a learning experience," explained Swansborough.

Ashley Thomas portrayed Rep. Shelley Capito (R) of West Virginia, Alexandra Neal was Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D) of Arizona and Kristyn Mayberry assumed the role of Carolyn Kilpatrick (D) of Michigan. "I looked at some of the speeches she has done and I said, 'Wow, she's a strong speaker just like me!' So I'm just gonna go with it."

And she did. "Land of the free? Huh! More like 'land of the rich,'" Mayberry exclaimed in character. "Because that's exactly the way you have to be to receive proper health care."

But behind the character, she has a personal story. "I've seen my grandparents go without proper healthcare in America," she explained, "and I wouldn't want anyone not to survive."

Dr. Swansborough hopes the students leave class with a better understanding of congress, the process and the pressure members face. "Members of Congress represent their district, they have their own political philosophy and then they're getting pressures from the party and that's the real dealings up there," he said. "How do you balance it?"

"It puts them [the students] in a position where they appreciate more the challenges of Congress in dealing with difficult but vital issues like healthcare reform," the professor added.

Though the group was split into the ratio of Democrats to Republicans that exists on the Hill, the classroom vote came down differently than it had in Congress. HR3200 "America's Affordable Health Choices Act 2009" failed by a vote of 19-14. This was due to a few absences and, with only 32 students, they lacked the sheer numbers of the House.

Dr. Swansborough will be teaching at Sichuan University in China next year as a Fulbright Scholar.  He plans to use this same exercise to teach about the American way of governance.

Reported by: Greg Glover