Mountain Echo

Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Irina Kuchevski From left to right: Brian Bauer, Beth Kitchen. Chase Flott, Brady Gnatt, Katherine McDonagh, and Jason Rightnour

A small contingent of Mount St. Mary's students set out for the nation's capital to participate in an annual event known as the National University Model Arab League. On March 27, after weeks of preparations, the group, largely made up of international relations, economics and political science majors was set to represent the country of Somalia.

According to the official Modern Arab League Web site, "Model Arab League is the premier Student Leadership Development Program of the National Council on U.S-Arab Relations."

Through Model Arab League students learn about the politics and history of the Arab world and the arts of diplomacy and public speech. Colleges and high schools from across the United States are invited to participate in this event and the Mount made up one of over 20 schools from all over the country.

This year marked the 25th year of the simulation for The National University Model Arab League. The NUMAL began as an informal simulation at Georgetown University in 1983 and has expanded to include over 200 students from 22 colleges and universities annually in an academic debate forum centered on issues relevant to the 22 Arab nations that comprise the League of Arab States.

Split into various committees such as environmental, economic or political affairs all 22 universities sent one or two delegates to each committee. Faced with the challenge of an assigned country with no central government, Mount students had to think creatively when drafting proposals and voting on amendments that dealt primarily with government-supported initiatives.

"It was an insightful diplomatic exercise that allowed our students the opportunity to tackle some of the most controversial and delicate issues facing a part of the world that is becoming increasingly reliant upon our ability to accurately understand it," junior Brady Gantt said.

The structure of the simulation was highly conducive to student learning and cooperation. Sessions began at 8 a.m. and ended at 8 p.m. Participants were only awarded two small breaks, the rest of the time was spent drafting proposals, developing amendments and voting on resolutions. A large summit at the end of the simulation afforded all 22 universities an opportunity to vote on resolutions developed within each committee.

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