ODU Group Recognized as Outstanding Delegation at Ohio State Model UN Conference

2014年2月7日

Left to right: Felicia Fisher, 布莱恩·莱, 克里斯蒂娜·希恩, 迈克尔·查普曼, 佩特拉Szonyegi and Joe Espinoza. Valerie Sprouse摄

Old Dominion's Model UN delegation took home three awards from the Model United Nations Conference at Ohio State University (MUNCOS), 1月. 25-26. This was ODU's first appearance at the OSU event.

"The delegation was small, with just six participants, but punched well above its weight, 获得三项大奖," said ODU Model UN Director Aaron Karp. In addition to receiving the Outstanding Delegation award, ODU's 布莱恩·莱 was named Best Delegate, 安理会, and Joe Espinoza was recognized as Outstanding Delegate, 安理会.

Bad weather kept some schools away, but did not affect the realism or intensity of the atmosphere in Columbus. "This was a new conference for ODU and easily our best achievement of the year," said Karp. "We expected to do well, but this was surprising. Everyone in the program is delighted."

Two ODU students stood out in the historical 安理会 of 1994, debating global responses to the civil war and genocide in Rwanda. 雷纳尔多和M.A. candidate in English literature, played the government of Rwanda and freshman international studies major Joe Espinoza portrayed China. "With their aggressive and accurate presentation, there was little the international community, as represented at the Ohio State event, 能做的, even with the benefit of hindsight,卡普说.

Four students represented ODU in the General Assembly, portraying the delegations of Hungary, 意大利, Switzerland and the United States as they debated the prospects for cooperation in future space exploration and colonization. "Avoiding militarization and reducing national claims in space, 该小组总结道, requires robust international cooperation,卡普指出.

Careful preparation, under the leadership of head delegate Rinaldo, made a big difference for ODU. Felicia Fisher, a freshman political science major, said: "Our delegation was ultra-competitive."

佩特拉Szonyegi, an ODU sophomore majoring in international studies, said much of the delegation's experience was due to the professionalism of the Ohio State organizers: "We had amazing committee chairs and conference directors, who dealt very well with the bad weather situation."

ODU的迈克尔·查普曼, a senior majoring in computer engineering, admitted that the scale of the OSU campus was among the most impressive sights during the trip: "You have to see it to believe it."

The university's travel and participation at Ohio State was made possible by financial support from Charles Wilson, dean of the 文学院 and 信s, 和卡罗尔·辛普森, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

With more than 60 members, the ODU Model UN Society is engaged in a full spectrum of international simulations and conference-organizing activities. The OSU conference was the ODU team's fifth major event of 2013-14. 上学期, ODU sent 25 students to the United Nations and country missions in New York, and competed at events sponsored by Georgetown University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Hampton Roads World Affairs Council.

本月晚些时候，2月11日. 20-23, the ODU society hosts its annual UN simulation conference for 1,200名参与者, a three-day event at the Norfolk Sheraton Waterside Hotel for regional high schools. Later this spring ODU Model UN will represent the university at conferences at the University of Virginia, William and Mary and the University of Chicago.