Model U.N. Wins Summit

By Broadside Correspondent Shafi Kahn

During a weekend filled with debates, George Mason University’s government class, Model United Nations, took on students from more than 20 universities at the National University Model Arab League Summit. The event, celebrating 25 years, was held at the Washington Hilton during the weekend of March 28.

The conference drew students from universities around the nation and world, including the University of California at Berkley, American University of Cairo and the U.S. Military Army Academy, West Point. Each school represented a different Arab nation and met in various committees from Palestinian issues to environmental affairs in order to debate, negotiate and hammer out resolutions. Mason’s Model Arab League members represented the Red Sea country of Yemen at this year’s conference.

Before attending the conference, the Arab League delegation kicked off with a visit to the University of Virginia's Virginia International Committee Simulation conference in Charlottesville. “We definitely had some of the best prepared and forthright students at this year’s conference,” Taylor said.

At the VIC’s conference, head delegate Fed Cuellar was awarded the Best Delegate award. Cuellar, a double Major in Global Affairs and Conflict Analysis and Resolution, has been involved with Model U.N. for eight years. The entire class delegation also received compliments from the VIC’s Secretary General. On the Arab League team, senior Chiraag Khemlani, a government and international politics major, was given an honorable mention for his outstanding work in his committee.

As the Model U.N. program at Mason continues to grow, staff and students are very optimistic about the program’s future.
“It is so exciting seeing how Mason is growing and expanding its connections with the community and internationally,” Taylor said of the program. Delegates were very excited about meeting students who shared similar passions.

“My impressions were that we’re surrounded by very knowledgeable, passionate people who very much will be the world's next great leaders,” said government major Ron D'Agostino.