Memo: To all Cabinet Officers Date:

Proposal Before the Board: For years people have made efforts to postpone 
the effects of old age--by surgery, healthy living, and finally by using 
heroic measures taken to prolong life.
It has come to the attention of the board that at long last science has made 
a breakthrough in halting the aging process. The pharmaceutical firm of Vlad 
and DeLeon has applied for DEA approval of a substance called 
"Anti-Gerasone." When taken by a mature adult, the client will show no 
further physical evidence of aging, nor will he/she be subject to disease. 
While not rendered immortal (accidents will happen) the person can expect to 
live as long as s/he chooses.
Since the product has not shown any evidence of having any side effects, this 
board is inclined to grant the petition that will allow production beginning 
as early as the year 2001.

We are interested in hearing from others in the scientific community, 
sociologists, theologians, ordinary citizens

Please submit a position statement on this for the board's consideration and 
report to the hearing room within the hour.

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To the Teacher: * The above notice is read to the class after 
reading/discussing Kurt Vonnegut's short story Tomorrow and Tomorrow and 
Tomorrow from his collection called Welcome to the Monkeyhouse.

Students are organized into four groups; each group will represent a 
different point of view. I think this distinction is worth making, in that 
'role' affects our point of view as much as age, location, family values, 
gender, etc. (Also, students study point of view in very different terms when 
dealing with literature: first person, third....etc. and all the variations 
thereof)

The idea is that students will develop a position and argument based 
primarily on their assigned roles, and that their goal is to convince/convert 
members to their group, as well as convince the judges. Usually I would 
invite three staff members to the next day's class for the presentations, to 
play the government committee. 

For the presentation part of the class, the stage should be set. A video 
camera and monitor should be used if possible, and a space for students to 
speak into the microphone to answer questions put to them by the judges or 
others in the room.

Some groups have created commercials for the product or interviewed people on 
the street to strengthen their case. They've created bogus petitions, 
invented horror stories and success stories. But ultimately the moral 
dilemmas inherent in eternal life, as well as the practical dilemmas get a 
thorough work out.



Each group should appoint a spokesperson, but individuals may be recognized 
to speak by the committee.

Group #1 You are concerned with the moral/ethical issues involved.
Who would have access to the substance? Should it be made
legal? What other concerns does this group have? Is this the 
"right thing" to do? 
(Please cover four important points when you make your presentation.)


Group #2 You are business people who want to market the product as 
soon as it is legalized. How would you convince the board
to hurry up and say ok? How would you respond to concerns
other groups might have about ethics and the environment?
How would you set up an ad campaign that would make this
a popular product and try to capture the market for your
company? You might want to change the name so it doesn't have 
a negative in it the way "Anti-gerasone does. Perhaps "Age-eon" or
some other enticing name. What would be a fair price? Who would 
you try to reach when/if it becomes legal? (Please cover four important
points when you make your presentation)

Group #3 You are from the Council of Concerned Scientists and do not
feel that this should be made legal. What worries and 
predictions would you warn The Board about? (Cite four
issues that are of particular concern to you)

Group #4 You are a citizen's group that is lobbying for the
legalization of anti-gerasone. You want access to it.
You are prospective consumers. How would you present your case? 
(Give four reasons that you think will convince the Board)