To Vend or Not to Vend - Game Script Should aspartame be available to students?

Background

Principal Smith is trying to decide if he should remove drinks containing aspartame from the vending machines in Central High School. He has asked for a committee to meet to discuss this issue. As a committee member you are being asked to present your position on this issue and make a recommendation to the Principal. Is aspartame safe for students to consume? Should the school make changes to the vending machines? Use the resources to prepare your position and share this with the committee.

Characters

Dr. Cammy Stree Food Chemist for the Food and Drug Administration

Dr. Cammy Stree is a chemist who works for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a quality control engineer. Her main job is to make sure that the nutritional information that is printed on food and beverage products that are sold to the general public is accurate. In addition to checking the purity of these ingredients, she is also tasked with understanding the waste products that are created once they have been processed by the human body.Dr. Stree received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and subsequently earned her masters degree in Food Science from the University of Massachusetts

Your Task

Dear Dr.Stree, you need to convince the principal that aspartame is safe to consume and it can remain the the vending machines at school. Try to establish your arguments using the resources offered to you. They are worth reading...

Resources

Scene - 01

Alzheimers Disease Myths - Alzheimers Association
Low Calorie Sweeteners - American Diabetes Association
Disproved Theories - National Multiple Sclerosis Society
FDA

Dr. Ricky Simmons Nutritionist

With a Bachelors of Science in Nutrition and a PhD in Exercise Physiology, Ricki’s main purpose is research – constantly exploring the potential of the human body. As a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, he teaches advanced health and fat loss strategies to audiences across the world – many of which you can find featured in international magazines and in scientific publications, and on websites across the globe. In his free time, he enjoys sweating it out to the oldies

Your Task

Dear Dr.Ricky Simmons, you need to convince the principal that aspartame is safe to consume and it can remain the the vending machines at school. Try to establish your arguments using the resources offered to you. They are worth reading...

Resources

Scene - 01

Alzheimers Disease Myths - Alzheimers Association
Low Calorie Sweeteners - American Diabetes Association
Disproved Theories - National Multiple Sclerosis Society
FDA

Sarah Moonbeam Natural Food Blogger

Sarah is a vegan who only eats raw foods. She runs a blog about eating vegan and organic food. Her blog is funded by the ads from the natural foods placed on her website. She has no background or education in nutrition or any medical degree. She believes that any artificial sweetener is poison.

Your Task

Dear Sarah, you need to convince the committee that aspartame is not a healthy option. Your position is that drinks containing aspartame should be removed from the vending machines. Try to establish your arguments using the resources offered to you. They are worth reading...

Resources

Scene - 01

Low Calorie Beverages Will Kill You - Food Babe
Aspartame Kills - Mission Possible Nations
The Deadly Truth About Aspartame - Nancy Markle
Project Recall Aspartame - Dr. Betty Martini

Maliq Johnson Certified Public Accountant

Maliq is a Certified Public Accountant or CPA who has two students that attend Central High School. He is undecided about whether or not drinks containing aspartame should be removed.

Your Task

Dear Maliq, you are trying to come to a decision for yourself and are open to hearing the different perspectives of the other committee members. Try to establish your arguments using the resources offered to you. They are worth reading...

Resources

Scene - 01

Aspartame Kills - Mission Possible Nations
Disproved Theories - National Multiple Sclerosis Society
The Deadly Truth About Aspartame - Nancy Markle
FDA

Lisette Ramos Owns a health food store

Lisette Ramos has owned a health food store for fifteen years. She maintains a website for her store where she posts articles written by Sarah Moonbeam. She is opposed to selling and consuming genetically modified foods ( gmo's). She is concerned about chemicals in the food that she sells. She has no background education in nutrition or medical degree.

Your Task

Dear Lissette, you need to convince the principal that aspartame is unhealthy and should not be made available to students in the vending machines. Try to establish your arguments using the resources offered to you. They are worth reading...

Resources

Scene - 01

Low Calorie Beverages Will Kill You - Food Babe
Aspartame Kills - Mission Possible Nations
The Deadly Truth About Aspartame - Nancy Markle
Project Recall Aspartame - Dr. Betty Martini

Scene 1: The Gathering

1. Public Message

Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I appreciate your willingness to advise me on the issue of removing drinks containing aspartame from vending machines in Central HIgh School. Your input into this decision is valuable and I am eager to hear what you think about how we can work together in the best interest of our students. Please introduce yourself to the committee and share your position on this issue.

Sincerely Principal Jones

2. Private (Shortly After previous message)

Dr. Cammy Stree:

Dr.Cammy Stree

Please introduce your self to the committee. Explain what qualifies you to advise on this issue. State your position on whether or drinks containing aspartame should be removed from the vending machines at Central High School

Dr. Ricky Simmons :

Ricky Simmons,

Please introduce yourself to the committee. Explain what qualifies you to advise the principal on this issue. State your position on whether or drinks containing aspartame should be removed from the vending machines at Central High School

Sarah Moonbeam:

Sarah Moonbeam,

Maliq Johnson:

Maliq Johnson

Please introduce your self to the committee. Explain what qualifies you to advise the principal on this issue. State your position on whether or drinks containing aspartame should be removed from the vending machines at Central High School

Lisette Ramos :

Lisette Ramos ,

Introduce yourself to the committee. Explain what qualifies you to advise the principal on this issue. State your position on whether or drinks containing aspartame should be removed from the vending machines at Central High School

3. Public Message (Shortly After previous message)

Now that you have all met and stated your position, provide one piece of evidence that supports your position. Include your source of evidence

4. Private (Shortly After previous message)

Dr. Cammy Stree:

Dr. Cammy Stree

One way to state your evidence could be " According to _______source ..."

Dr. Ricky Simmons :

Ricky,

One way to state your evidence could be " According to _______source ..."

Sarah Moonbeam:

Sarah,

One way to state your evidence could be " According to _______source ..."

Maliq Johnson:

Maliq,

Have the other committee members convinced you either way? If so who and why? If not, why not? Are you still undecided on this issue? Let them know in the discussion.

Lisette Ramos :

Lisette,

One way to state your evidence could be " According to _______source ..."

5. Private (Shortly After previous message)

Dr. Cammy Stree:

Now that you have seen evidence from the other side, respond to one committee member and refute their claim using the knowledge gained from your resources.

Dr. Ricky Simmons :

Now that you have seen evidence from the other side, respond to one committee member and refute their claim using the knowledge gained from your resources.

Sarah Moonbeam:

Now that you have seen evidence from the other side, respond to one committee member and refute their claim using the knowledge gained from your resources.

Maliq Johnson:

Now that you have seen evidence from the other side, respond to one committee member and refute their claim using the knowledge gained from your resources.

Lisette Ramos :

Now that you have seen evidence from the other side, respond to one committee member and refute their claim using the knowledge gained from your resources.