2017 Spring Press Release

Washington Model of Organization American States (MOAS) Press Release 2017

Fifteen members of the Baylor MOAS team travelled to Washington, D.C. from 9 April to 15 April to participate in the Washington Model of Organization American States (WMOAS) hosted by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Institute for Diplomatic Dialogue in the Americas. Twenty-seven teams from the United States, Venezuela, Colombia, Canada, Argentina, Ecuador, and Peru debated resolutions in five committees compelling them to participate in matters of democracy. Ambassador La Celia Prince, Chief of Staff of the Assistant Secretary General, addressed the opening session of the model in the Hall of the Americas and commended the students in their roles in international cooperation, democracy, and peace.

In the first session, the Baylor team was surprised to learn that its delegation was a part of the crisis scenario, in which WikiLeaks reported that Argentina and Brazil had been conspiring against international agreements to development nuclear arms. In cooperation with the Argentina delegation, represented by students from the University of Pennsylvania, the Brazilian delegation moved swiftly to avert an incident by offering, in the spirit of transparency, to open both countries to international observers.  

On Monday, the Baylor team went to visit the Pentagon courtesy of Baylor Alumnus and former MOAS participant, Eva Baker, who gave the team a private tour. They were able to get a behind the scenes look at the Department of Defense, visiting the office of the Secretary Defense as well an in depth look at our country’s security infrastructure. Additionally, the team was able to pay somber respects at the 9/11 memorial and chapel.

On Tuesday, the Baylor team went to the Watergate complex to visit Mr. Gustavo Fávero de Souza, the Second Secretary and Alternate Representative in the office of the Ambassador to the OAS. He was able to spend almost two hours answering questions from each individual student about issues pertaining to the model. He openly spoke about Brazil’s foreign policies as well as the recent transition of domestic power within his own government.

At the model, the team had eight resolutions approved by the faculty board with the majority of those passed by acclamation. Students wrote on diverse topics such as, national security concerns, environmental issues, and sustainable and resilient cities. At this year’s model, Baylor student  Gaby McCormack (Senior, International Studies, Tuscan, AZ),chaired the Special Committee, while Makayla Gorden (Freshman, Political Science, Midland) and Emily Kleinburg, (Senior, History, Lampasas) served as rapporteurs on First  and Third Committees, respectively. Clay Huddleston (Senior, Political Science, Nashville, TN) worked as the team’s Public Information Officer and Mucia Flores (Senior, Political Science/Great Texts, Laredo) assisted the team.   

Members of the Brazilian delegation included: Ross McLaughlin, Head Delegate (Junior, Political Science, Argyle, TX), Rafael Silva Ramirez, Co-Head Delegate (Sophomore, International Studies/Film and Digital Media, Querétaro, México), Brendan Smith, (Junior, German, Lees Summit, MO), Zachary Brynell, (Senior, International Studies, Fort Worth), Parker Wooden, (Sophomore, History, Houston), Lawson Sadler, (Freshman, University Scholars, San Antonio), Victoria Harrison, (Sophomore, International Studies, West Palm Beach, FL), Arianna Gomez, (Junior, Community Health, Piedras Negras, Mexico), Clayton Jelinek, (Junior, Political Studies/Arabic and Middle East Studies, Broken Arrow, OK), and May Atassi, (Junior, Finance, Syria).

The team was coached by Dr. Joan E. Supplee, the Ralph L. and Bessie Mae Lynn Professor of History.

For more information please contact:

• Mucia Flores, Mucia_Flores@baylor.edu
• Christopher_Huddleston@baylor.edu
• Gaby McCormack, Gaby_McCormack@baylor.edu, or
• Ross McLaughlin, Ross_McLaughlin@baylor.edu.