Converse Debaters a Dominant Force During Regional Conference

Members of the Converse College delegation were the big winners during the Southeast Model Arab League held March 17- 19 on the Converse campus.

With over 220 college debaters from 17 colleges throughout the region and beyond participating, Converse earned Outstanding Delegation honors and a number of its students were voted as Outstanding Delegates. Other participating colleges included Northeastern University, Furman University, Old Dominion University, Western Carolina University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Mercer University, Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Modeled after League of Arab States parliamentary procedure, the event is a simulation in which students write, debate and pass resolutions on issues of concern in the Arab world, a region viewed by many as among the most vital. Student delegations represent League member countries, and win awards in their respective committees based upon their knowledge of their country’s positions and their argumentation, negotiation and consensus-building talents. Converse students represented Iraq and Bahrain.

Members of the Converse delegation representing Iraq earned Outstanding Delegate awards in all seven councils and in the Arab Court of Justice. The award winners were:
• Grace Bagwell, a junior from Boiling Springs, SC for her work with the Council on the Promotion of Women;
• Courtney Clark, a senior from Spartanburg, SC who served on the Joint Defense Council;
• Melanie Harrison, a senior from Houston, TX who served on the Environmental Affairs Council;
• Lucy Johnson, a sophomore from Hollandale, MS who served on the Political Affairs Council;
• Nora Nassri, a sophomore from Orangeburg, SC for her work on the Economic Affairs Council;
• Danielle Peregoy, a sophomore from Aiken, SC for her work on the Social Affairs Council;
• Yosi Weldemedhin, a sophomore from Ethiopia, for her work on the Palestinian Affairs Council.

Kelsey Nichols, a sophomore from Matthews, NC was named an Outstanding Delegate for her efforts as Advocate on the Arab Court of Justice, and earned a second award as the Honorable Mention Outstanding Justice.

Converse winners representing Bahrain were:
• Candy Kunze, a sophomore from Chester, VA who was named an Outstanding Delegate for her efforts with the Promotion of Women Council;
• Megan Madison, a freshman from Chester, VA won Honorable Mention Outstanding Delegate on the Palestinian Affairs Council.

The Bahrain delegation was completed by freshmen Katie Moore of Moore, SC, Sarah Moser of Mooresville, NC and Anne Fagge of High Point, NC, and sophomores Baye Williamson of Kingsport, TN and Jodi Hylton of Dallas, TX who all received several votes from the judges and their participant peers in the awards competition.

Converse senior Mallory Beckett from Easley, SC served as the Secretary-General and Tina Rohner, a senior from Kaufbeuren, Germany served as Assistant Secretary General for the event.

Converse students chaired six of the eight councils of the event. They were:
• Holly Jordan, a senior from Ridgeley, W. VA–Chief Justice of the Arab Court of Justic