TAMIU Students Travel to Singapore for UN Conference

A delegation of seven Texas A&M International University students will have a special opportunity to exchange ideas with college students from over 42 countries as they travel to Singapore to participate in the World Model United Nations Conference (WorldMUN) this week.

The Conference simulates United Nations, International Organizations, and governmental bodies such as the World Health Organization, the ASEAN Regional Forum and government cabinets. Participants represent countries, organizations or leaders and debate pressing international issues.

Cornelius Kipkorir, a sophomore international economics major, said the TAMIU delegation has met every weekend since January with TAMIU WorldMUN advisor Dr. Jaime Ortíz to research diverse pressing issues such as worldwide narco-terrorism, people with disabilities, sovereignty wealth funds, human rights in Kosovo and the Balkan states, and the trial hearings of the Burmese Junta -- all in order to formulate a resolution addressing them.

TAMIU’s student delegation will represent the country of Cambodia in the Conference, advocating for the country’s interest in an UN-styled forum.

Kenya native Kipkorir, a TAMIU Student Government Association senator, said he looks forward to contributing his ideas on an international platform.

“I would like to expand my understanding of global issues at this Conference and hope that, through our interaction with other students, we will be able to build a consensus on many issues currently affecting our world,” he said, “The other wish is to be able to establish a network of scholars that will be able to keep in touch and continue discussing what they are doing to improve their universities.”

TAMIU’s delegation this year includes Kipkorir; Alejandra Avila, senior business administration major; Alejandro Barrera, sophomore, biology; Aaron Gangi, junior, political science; Alejandra Ovando, junior, English; George-ThomasPugh, sophomore, biology; and Tracy Talavera, sophomore, sociology and anthropology.

TAMIU students competed for consideration based on an application, resume and a personal interview. Interview selection criteria included merit, diversity and academic standing. This is the sixth year that a delegation from TAMIU has attended WorldMUN.

WorldMUN, the Harvard World Model United Nations, is the most diverse college-level Model UN Conference in the world, and the largest outside North America. Every year, about 1,650 college students from all over the world attend WorldMUN in a different location around the world. Past locations have included Egypt, China, Switzerland, Mexico, The Netherlands, and Taiwan.

It combines daily committee sessions with nightly social events. Delegates experience the host country and discuss and debate ideas from the perspective of countries they may have never visited or lived in. Through an exchange of diverse ideas, delegates learn more about other countries, issues of global importance and themselves.

For more information, please contact TAMIU’s Bi-National Center, at 326.3067, e-mail binationalcenter@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in Anthony J. and Georgia Pellegrino Hall 301.

WorldMUN information is also available at www.worldmun.org

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu