|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IU Kokomo pair take Model U.N. award
November 24, 2003 | |||||
|
KOKOMO, Ind.—A team of IU Kokomo students, Kelley Lavengood of Kokomo and Brad Glass of Windfall, received a best delegate award for their performance in the November 13–15 Model United Nations (U.N.) at the University of Indianapolis. Students from 16 Indiana colleges and universities tested their debating skills in the Model United Nations, which simulates the U.N. Security Council’s efforts to pass resolutions addressing global issues. Lavengood, who is majoring in business, and Glass, who is studying in the campus’ University Division, represented French delegates in a mock debate over reconstruction and disarmament of Iraq. Because of France’s real-life criticism of the recent Iraq war, the two “had a tough task,” according to Todd Bradley, Ph.D., faculty advisor to the IU Kokomo participants. “They showed outstanding negotiating skills, strategic fortitude and compromise efforts,” said Bradley. “The teams representing the other countries wanted to boot them out, but, [Lavengood and Glass] did their homework and held their own to win the award.” Other local students taking part in the Model U.N. were Debbie Lanning, representing Bulgaria, and Jack Sanders, representing Cameroon. Both live in Kokomo. Lanning is pursuing a general studies degree; Sanders is majoring in social and behavioral science. The Model United Nations is an extracurricular activity not tied to any course credit or specific major, Bradley noted. The students learned which countries they would represent in early fall and began independent research on the countries then. By participating in the Model U.N., Bradley said, the students learned skills that “they can use throughout life—teamwork, compromise, understanding the complexities of the resolutions.” They also gained insights into the workings of the U.N. and the Security Council, particularly in how Security Council resolutions, which are not legally binding, still influence countries, said Bradley. “The resolutions spell out norms of behavior that countries can gravitate to in terms of governing themselves. Resolutions can be followed for some level of stability and civility throughout the world.” Bradley is an assistant professor of political science at IU Kokomo.
|
|
||||