Posted on 05/14/2018 2:25:49 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
LEXINGTON — Wesley O’Dell interrupted class discussion at Washington and Lee University to share breaking news.
“Mr. President, if I may, all major news networks have interrupted their regular daytime programming …”
Annie Lentz interrupted him, “Fox and Friends as well?”
“Fox and Friends as well, Mr. President.”
Lentz, a sophomore, portrays President Donald Trump in O’Dell’s “International Crises and National Security” class, where students simulate international dilemmas and act as real members of the president’s National Security Council.
The class is the first of its kind at Washington and Lee University — students are expected to not only portray real people, but also offer real solutions to issues of national security.
“All daytime programming of the three broadcast networks has been interrupted,” O’Dell continued. “The Venezuelan situation is being treated as a major breaking news event worthy of the attention of the American people.”
“Sounds like we need a strong answer on this,” Lentz said. “If Fox is paying attention to it, then we know it’s a big deal. I need a solution where we can assert American dominance without looking like we’re imposing ourselves on the world … Who can give me that option?”
Lentz, as Trump, sits at the head of a rectangular table and wears a red tie, black suit and an American flag pin on her lapel. On either side of her sit the other members of the National Security Council, such as Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.
Last week, students were faced with chaos in Venezuela. The country’s economy collapsed, causing widespread riots. The president fled the country and two members of the ruling party claimed control. Advisers representing the U.S. military advocated for an overt intervention, but the diplomats tried to convince the president to work with the neighboring countries to establish stability.
The class also discussed the potential effect on the global oil market and the influx of possible refugees to Brazil, Colombia and the United States. In the end, Lentz decided to work with Brazil and Colombia to secure the border with the help of a small number of American troops.
Much like a president might, Lentz learns from the experts at the table and makes a decision based on their guidance. But in class, she doesn’t decide based on what she personally thinks, but what she believes Trump would choose if he was in the same position.
And each student sitting at the table does the same. After extensive research, they advocate for whatever their character would, with whatever biases and backgrounds they might bring.
To prepare for her role, Lentz read Trump’s 1987 book “The Art of Deal,” where she said she learned about his business practices, background and family life. And before the class started, she exclusively watched Fox News to stay up to date.
The other students not only know about the background of their characters, but also the intricate relationship Trump has with each person at the table. Lentz said during one class she got angry with the student who plays Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who real-life Trump has complained about on Twitter.
When Lentz enters the room, every member of the council stands up. They are expected to advocate for their side, but also to appease the president.
“It’s hard not to have a power trip honestly,” Lentz said. “It’s a bizarre experience to walk into a room and have everyone’s attention.”
Before the class began, students were able to send in preferences on which character they wanted to play. Lentz said her first choice was Sessions, but that she agreed to play Trump after O’Dell asked.
Lentz said Trump was a difficult persona to master at first, but that she has come into the role with the help of the fake Trump Twitter account she runs. She tweets about four times a day in Trump's writing style about breaking news in real life and from class.
After discussing the Venezuelan crisis, she tweeted, "Had a VERY productive National Security Council meeting today. Lots of progress. Lots and lots of progress. NO MORE IMMIGRATION! We will hep other countries without sacrificing the freedom of America! BUILD THAT WALL!"
Lentz gets constant questions about the class from other students at W&L, which she said is because it's so different from other classes offered during the four-week spring term.
Luke Teague, a senior who plays the secretary of state, said he the simulation-style class is "incredibly challenging.
“The research you have to do for it out of class is a lot. You have to find public statements, policy positions, voting records. And if you don’t personally agree with the character you’re playing, that can make it challenging when you’re making recommendations,” Teague said.
O'Dell, a visiting assistant professor of politics who received his undergraduate degree from W&L, said he first learned about this simulation-style class at a conference with the Council on Foreign Relations in New York last year.
The council provides the crisis situations through its model diplomacy program, targeted at politics programs like the one at Washington and Lee. They provide resources for students to learn the real-life background on the international crises and offers potential military, intelligence and diplomatic solutions.
However, most colleges don’t require students to portray actual characters. That was something O’Dell added.
“I’m a firm believer that as scholars, as students, we have to try to meet the world where it stands to understand it,” O’Dell said. “And that what this is about. It’s about empathetic learning. It’s about putting yourself out of yourself and instead occupying the shoes of a bureaucrat. Occupying the shoes of somebody with whose view you vehemently disagree.”
He said many of the students wholeheartedly disagree with their real life characters, but many specifically requested to play them for that reason. The acting component allows the students to fully engage in their roles and in the class, he said.
Beyond the formal decision-making sessions, O’Dell also spends some classes lecturing on international and foreign relations. One class they studied the psychology of politicians and other times they discuss real world issues and how leaders handle them.
“After taking this class, it’s completely changed my outlook on politics and government,” Lentz said. “You kind of realize it truly is just a few people in a room making these decisions.”
Snarky Trump hater Annie Lentz.
Duh
Sounds like a great class.
Sounds like their teacher brainwashed them to hate President Trump.
Sounds like every time she is asked to make a decision, she asks how FoxNews feels about the situation. NOT REALITY, but hey, that’s how schools roll these days, all anti-Trump, all the time.
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