UTSA Model Organization of American States team members
(clockwise from from lower left) Stephanie Drenner, Rachel
Carrales, Daniel Johnson, faculty advisor James McDonald,
Jose Villalobos, Brenna Rivas, Jennifer Scavone and Sarah Luna
Students win two awards at Model Organization of American States
(Nov. 16, 2001)--A team of eight UTSA honors students brought home two awards last weekend from the fifth annual Model Organization of American States (MOAS) student conference at St. Mary's University in San Antonio.
The UTSA team provided three of the five rapporteurs, or representatives, who participated in various committees at the conference. The conference included 23 student teams from 18 schools in Texas, New Mexico and Mexico, each representing one of the 34 countries in North or Latin America.
"The entire team should be congratulated for an outstanding effort," said James McDonald, team advisor and associate professor of anthropology. "They did a wonderful job representing Mexico."
Daniel Johnson, electrical engineering major, brought home two awards -- Outstanding Delegate for the Security Committee and Distinguished Ambassador to the General Assembly.
Brenna Rivas, biology major was this year’s Secretary General to MOAS. "The person in this position is the lead organizer of the conference, and I can attest to the fact that Brenna did a yeoman's job and made the conference happen," McDonald said.
The UTSA team and their respective MOAS teams also included Rachel Carrales, English major, Human Rights Committee; Stephanie Drenner, criminal justice major, Drug Abuse Control Committee; Sarah Luna, anthropology major, Human Rights Committee and rapporteur to the final General Assembly; Michael Pammit, biology major; Jennifer Scavone, Spanish major, Inter-American Cooperation and Development Committee; and Jose Villalobos, political science major, Juridical Committee.
"The students learned that diplomacy goes a step further than debating an issue," said McDonald. "In debate, you are convincing people to adopt your position. But in diplomacy you must work for consensus, in which case you have to compromise and don't always get everything you want. It's a social kind of process in which there is a need to listen carefully to others."
MOAS in an educational opportunity for college students that simulates the activities of the OAS and its committees by allowing participants to assume the roles of diplomatic representatives to the OAS. Role playing allows students to gain a better understanding of the problems and complexities of the relationships among member nations.
Personal communication skills are enhanced by participating in discussion
and debates. An important issue is presented and small groups are formed to
explore these problems in detail. The MOAS conference reinforces San Antonio
as a gateway to Central and South America and better prepares future leaders
for inter-American affairs.
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Students win two awards at Model Organization of American States
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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2001