Press Release MOEA 2008

For Immediate Release:

Baylor Model Organization of American States Team Shines at International Model in Santiago, Chile

Baylor’s Model Organization of American States Team moved to a new level of excellence this summer with their participation in a Model Organización de Estados Americanos (MOEA) held at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) in Santiago from 14-17 July 2008. The Baylor team was the only non-native Spanish speaking team and the only team from North America to attend. All 34 member states and one observer state of the OAS were represented. Teams came from universities in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina While representing the country of Guatemala, Baylor students prepared a position paper, presented resolutions, and debated in Spanish during the model. Guest speakers at model included the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, the Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alejandro Foxley, and the Chilean Minister of Education, Mónica Jimenez. Students were invited to a reception hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Chilean Chancellery as well as a reception hosted by the President of the PUC. In addition to passing resolutions in four of the five committees on topics ranging from hemispheric security, energy conservation, democratic reform to disaster relief, members of the Baylor team played an important role in crafting the Declaration of Santiago and two other joint resolutions. The OAS expert from the First Committee singled out Delegate Cassidy Ford (Jr,University Scholar from Phoenix, Arizona) for the quality of her resolution. Co-head Delegate, Ariel Alexander (Jr, French Major from San Antonio, Texas) campaigned for President of the Model and was one of the four finalists for that position. Other members of the team included: Emmanuelle Muñoz, co-Head Delegate (Jr. Neuroscience Major from San Antonio, Texas), Megan McNerney (Jr. International Studies Major from Troy, Ohio), Daisy Marchena (Jr. International Studies Major from Houston, Texas), Juan Carlos Cortez, (Sr. International Studies Major from Mt. Pleasant, Texas), Seth Reed, (Jr., Political Science Major from Cassville, Texas), and Pedro Delgado (Sr. Political Science Major from San Antonio, Texas). The team was coached by Dr. Joan E. Supplee of the History Department and received support from Modern Foreign Languages, Political Science, the Honors College, the Center for International Education, the Dean of Arts and Science, and the Office of the Executive Vice-President and Provost.

From left to right: Ariel Alexander, J.C. Cortez, Manny Muñoz, Pedro Delgado, Cassidy Ford, Daisy Marchena, and Megan McNerney at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile on 14 July 2008