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Members of the ������ Model African Union team took full advantage of an opportunity to broaden their worldview at a recent conference in Washington, D.C.

The team attended Howard University’s annual Model African Union conference and performed extremely well, distinguishing itself from more than 20 participating colleges.

During the conference students had to formulate, present, and defend proposals that support the interests of their respective countries and benefit the rest of Africa. To be successful students had to be aware of the political, economic, and ideological status of each country.

Jana Bauerova ’09 (second from left) takes part in the Model African Union conference held at Howard University in early March.

“Before you go to a conference you not only have to read up on the country you are assigned but also read up on what’s going on in the whole continent,” said Mayra Gamez ’09

Professor Mary Moran, faculty adviser to the group, noted that the students gain as much as they give from their experience in Model AU:

“Students who participate in it really get the experience of seeing how international diplomacy works,” she said. “The map of Africa really comes alive for them.”

Louis Mensah ’11 credited Model AU as having a significant impact on how he approaches academic work.

During a conference students will debate and critique proposed resolutions, down to the word. This experience conditions you to carefully articulate your work as well as have the confidence to publicly defend it, Mensah said.

A major challenge of the conference is that students must put personal opinions and beliefs aside and take on the interests of the country they represent. This often becomes one of the most intellectually rewarding aspects of the experience.

Leah Montre ’10 speaks to the Committee on Social Matters at the Model African Union conference.

“I can lecture about the fact that there are 53 countries in Africa all day, but when students begin identifying each other as Zambia or Somalia, and really critique and evaluate each other’s performance in staying in character as a representative of that country, it takes on a new reality for them” said Moran, professor of anthropology and Africana and Latin American studies.

In addition to performing well over all, individual team members received top honors.

Leah Montre ’10 won the Committee Leadership Award from the Committee for Social Matters. Mensah ’11 received Honorable Mention for the Outstanding Delegation Award in the Peace and Security Committee.

Malik Wright ’09 was chosen to be chair of the Committee on Union Government, and based on his leadership, was chosen by the faculty advisers to be vice chair of the Assembly of Heads of State.