Meredith
November 28, 2001
ERALD
Volume 3W1, Issuc^f/ ?-
TTTTT
Model UN Class Brings
Home Award, Defeats NCSU
□ Conference
brings international
perspective on world
relations.
JONi Smith
Managing Editor
Students enrolled in Dr. Jim
Piazza's Model United
Nations class traveled to the
Evergreen Conference Center
and Resort in Atlanta, Georgia,
Nov. 15-18 to compete in thie
13th Southern Regional Model
United Nations Conference
(SRMUN).-
While at Model UN. the stu
dents debated issues affecting
Bangladesh, Ihe country Piaz
za chose for the students to
research and represent at the
conference.
“I chose Bangladesh
because 1 wanted the students
Jo have the opportunity to
[earn about a country that
played a role in every aspect of
the real UN. including the
Security Council. 1 also want
ed the Meredith delegation to
be responsible for representing
a country that I was very
familiar with so I could be a
resource tool.” Piazza said.
Some students also cam
paigned for the International
Alliance for Women (lAW), a
non-governmental organiza
tion that is concerned with
women’s issues on a global
.scale.
Students represenling
Bangladesh chose to work on
committees such as the Securi
ty Council, Ihe General
Assembly, the General Assem
bly Plenary, the World Bank,
egations,” Piazza said.
The Meredith delegation
representing Bangladesh
exceeded the expectations of
many. The students received
Honorable Mentions at the
conference, making their rigor
ous preparation worthwhile.
Meredith. I know NCSU now
takes us more seriously since
we brought home an award our
first year at SRMUN, and they
have been several times and
came home empty-handed this
year,” commented junior
Hunter Eddins.
the INSIDE:
I, • {I
/ Remember the
forgotten conflict
in Checlinya
page!
or the Commission on Sustain
able Development, and stu
dents representing the lAW
chose to work on the Econom
ic and Social Council or thrf
Commission for Human
Rights.
The weekend was an action-
packed event
with delegate
meetings begin
ning between 8
a.m. and 9 a.m.
every morning
and not ending
until 11 p.m.
While in meet
ings, the dele
gates debated
issues ranging
from water
rights in Israel
and Palestine to
multilateral debt
relief.
Junior Sejal
Patel and sopho
more Karen QgfijQp Courtney Arrington, representing Bangladesh on the Security
Bobinyec Council, speaks to the other delegates on water rights disputes in
served on ihe, ,
„ , . Israel and Palestme.
General Assem
bly representing
To receive an award at the
Model UN, a delegation must
place in the top five during
every session in each commit
tee. There are three sessions
per day.
Delegates are judged on
prepartion, ability to maintain
the character of the country or
NGO, strength of diplomatic
skills and accordance with par
liamentary procedure.
“Model UN was the most
intellectually challenging event
1 have participated in during
my time at Meredith College. 1
believe our respected represen
tation has opened doors for
Photo courtesy of jim piazza
Bangladesh said that they were
nervous at first but the confer
ence turned out to be a worth
while academic experience.
The students arrived at the
conference not knowing what
to expect because none of the
students or Piazza had partici
pated in the SRMUN at the col
lege level prior to this year.
“I came into this experience
hoping we would be able to
survive the competition our
first year. I had no experience
with SRMUN so I was really
hoping the students wouldn't
be intimidated by the other del-
Meredith won the award in a
field of competition including
Louisiana State University,
Clemson University, North
Carolina State University,
UNC-Greensboro. Penn State
University, Pace University,
and Florida State University.
The preparation for the con
ference along with the actual
duties performed by the stu
dents gave students experience
in areas that will last long past
SRMUN.
“It was exciting to see the
students engage and adapt. It
proves our students are adapt
able, competitive, and knowl
edgeable,” Piazza said.
He also said that he hopes
his students gained self confi
dence , in public speaking,
debating and interpersonal
negotiating as well as under
standing that international
issues are real, and people all
over the wofld are talking
about them.
Angel Fumagalli. a Junior in
the Model UN class said that as
an international student,
attending SRMUN enhanced
her public speaking skills.
“SRMUN is a time for
everyone to turn their attention
to other nations to guarantee a
more peaceful future." she
said.
“I think it was so interesting
and rewarding for both the stu
dents and the professors to see
everything we learned in class
come together at SRMUN,”
said sophomore Ani Jackson.
The Model UN class has cer
tainly added a new dimension
to the international studies pro
gram at Meredith-
The students are enthusiastic
about beginning a Model Unit
ed Nations club at Meredith so
students will have the opportu
nity to go to a Model UN con
ference every semester.
Many students commented
on how they thought the quali
ties promoted by SRMUN
would be beneficial even after
their college years are over.
Junior Anna Wheeler said. “I
really enjoyed Model UN, and
I think others would also. I met
so many people and learned so
much about myself as well as
others. I gained a lot of confi
dence in myself and in Mered
ith's ability to prepare me for
the real world.”
'/
Editorial cartoonist Merrily Strickland
counts down the days until
Christmas break
page 4
Sip the staple of the
South-sweet tea
page?