Converse Wins Southeast Model Arab League

With an Outstanding Delegate citation in every one of the seven committees, the Converse Oman delegation took first place honors among 19 schools competing at the Southeast Model Arab League conference held March 15-17 at Converse.

“This activity is real leadership development, putting students in position to demonstrate the talents to articulate, persuade, formulate and defend solutions, and earn the respect of very talented peers.”

Outstanding individual delegate awards went to Converse students Morgan Roach, Kathleen Hines, Molly Glibbery, Tyler Lawrence, Julie Edwards, Gracie Johnson, and Katy Kline. Providing senior-level leadership for the otherwise first-year Tunisia delegation, Shannon Bishop and her freshman partner Jenna Realmuto won awards for this delegation; and Freshman Gabby Chamberland also was cited on the Tunisia delegation. In the Arab Court of Justice, Melanie Waddell won two awards, one as advocate in presenting her successful case and one as a jurist in the role of deciding cases. Kaylee Boalt won unanimous vote as the Outstanding Chair and Sagan Blackwell was named Honorable Mention for second place. Ashley Blount was Secretary General of the event.

Converse Model Programs advisor Dr. Joe Dunn praised the students for their strong performance. “The great joy of this program is to see how students develop. This was our third competition of the year so freshmen who were timid and hesitant at the beginning of the year now have started to get their feet under them and are becoming solid contributors. The internal competitiveness within the delegation is always interesting as younger students want to make their mark and become our first-chair debaters. And the lobbying for who gets to be a chair or next year’s head delegates has already begun.”

The Model League of Arab States (MLAS) program is a competitive simulation in which students write, debate, and pass resolutions on issues of concern in the Arab world. Students win awards in their respective committees based upon their knowledge of their country’s positions and their argumentation, negotiation, and consensus-building talents.

In the Model League competition, each participating college represents an Arab country on seven committees: Joint Defense, Palestinian Affairs, Interior Affairs, Social Affairs, Arab Economic Unity, Environmental Affairs, and a special topic (which was Arab League Reform). Delegates also argue matters of law in the Arab Court of Justice. “This activity is real leadership development, putting students in position to demonstrate the talents to articulate, persuade, formulate and defend solutions, and earn the respect of very talented peers,” said Dunn.

Converse now prepares for its last competition of the year, the National Model Arab League to be held the second week of April at Georgetown University.