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Rider Model United Nations Alumni Association "Together we aspire, together we achieve"

Rider NMUN 42nd Team
representing Lebanon at
THE 2009 NATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS
Outstanding Delegation Award & Outstanding Position Paper Award

• Front Row (Left to Right): Zarif Islam, Susan Campbell, Cecilia Komey, Stephanie Ahenkora, Madiha Latif, Michelle Liebner, Jasmin Eisenbeutel, Amanda Sandlins, Joseph Gallant, Casey Langweiler, Jon Padron
• Back Row: Kenneth Jacobs, Ally Watson, Steph Foran, Jon Chebra, Sean Singarayar, Joshabel de la Cruz, Dana Weinstein

Rider’s 2009 Model UN Team Named Outstanding Delegation
[Source: http://www.rider.edu/2529_16851.htm]

Rider’s 2009 Model United Nations Team received two top honors at the conclusion of the National Model United Nations Conference, held from Sunday, April 5, through Thursday, April 9, inside the U.N. headquarters in New York City.

Representing Lebanon, the Rider team received the prestigious Outstanding Delegation award, which is the highest distinction a team can receive. The Rider entry competed against 300 delegations from national and international universities.

There was Rider representation on several committees, including the General Assembly's, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), League of Arab States, U.N. Commission for Western Asia, World Trade Organization, and Food and Agriculture. Partners on the committees were responsible for writing position papers defending their country’s stance on three topics. The Rider delegation received an Outstanding Position Paper recognition for the overall quality of the nine papers submitted by the team.

“I have to say this was, without a doubt, the best team that Rider could have churned out. I think that we worked very well with each other,” said Head Delegate Susie Campbell of Fairfield, Conn., a senior Global & Multinational Studies, Political Science and French major. “We were a great, solid team. I think that the beauty was the success of last year because so many people became interested in joining the team this year. We were able to be more selective when deciding on our team.”

Last year’s team, which represented the Syrian Arab Republic, received an Outstanding Delegation award. This year, Campbell and co-leaders Jon Chebra of Newtown, Pa., a senior Political Science major, and Zarif Islam of Dhaka, Bangladesh, a junior Economics and Political Science major, interviewed 30 applicants. Ultimately, 15 students were selected. Unlike previous years, this team also included freshmen.

“It’s the beginning of an even better legacy. There will be more people returning to next year, and they really will bring it to the next level,” Campbell explained.

The team also encompassed a range of majors and a diversity of ethnic backgrounds, including students from Austria, Bangladesh and Germany. Other students, such as Joshabel De La Cruz, who has studied abroad in Greece, Hong Kong and France, were able to bring their global perspectives to the table. All these different views worked to the group’s advantage, as they interacted with people representing various cultures at the competition.

“The whole part of Model U.N. is to really expand your horizons,” Campbell said. “When you are dealing with people from different backgrounds, you are much more aware of how you communicate. You are more culturally sensitive.”

Campbell said it was coincidental how last year’s team represented the Syrian Arab Republic and this year’s team represented Lebanon.

“Lebanon tends to get pushed around by Syria and Israel because they are sandwiched in the middle,” said Campbell, also noting Lebanon’s close partnership with France. “The challenge is not upsetting European countries while not upsetting Arab countries.”

The team met regularly as an evening class (POL 295 Special Project: National Model United Nations). Dr. Jonathan Mendilow, chairman of the Political Science Department, also gave the students a lecture about history and structure of Lebanon. The team also prepared and conducted extensive research outside of the classroom. Broad knowledge of a team’s designated country is pivotal because its members must remain in character as delegates in order to be successful during committee meetings.

“It’s a great experience because you become almost an expert in that particular field,” Campbell said. “You have to deal with it for a month and then pour over the information for a week during the conference.”

The 2010 Rider NMUN delegation included:

• Susie Campbell of Fairfield, Conn., a senior Global & Multinational Studies, Political Science and French major, Head Delegate;
• Jon Chebra of Newtown, Pa., a senior Political Science major, Co-Leader;
• Zarif Islam of Dhaka, Bangladesh, a junior Economics and Political Science major, Co-Leader;
• Stephanie Ahenkora of Phillipsburg, N.J., a freshman Political Science major;
• Joshabel De La Cruz of Fort Lee, N.J., a senior Communication major;
• Jasmin Eisenbeutel of Salzburg, Austria, an exchange student from the University of Graz;
• Stephanie Foran of Sewell, N.J., a freshman Global and Multinational Studies major;
• Joseph Gallant of Wayne, N.J., a junior Political Science major;
• Kenneth Jacobs of Upper Marlboro, Md., a junior Journalism major;
• Cecilia Komey of Trenton, N.J., a senior Global and Multinational Studies;
• Casey Langweiler of Newtown, Pa., a sophomore Global Business major;
• Madiha Latif of Arnold, Md., a freshman Psychology major;
• Michelle Liebner of Westampton, N.J., a junior General Liberal Arts major;
• Jonathon Padron of Ferndale, Wash., a junior Political Science major;
• Amanda Sandlin of Tamaqua, Pa., a sophomore Political Science major;
• Sean Singarayar of Skillman, N.J., a senior Liberal Studies major;
• Ally Watson of Pawling, N.Y., a junior Political Science major; and
• Dana Weinstein of Cherry Hill, N.J., a sophomore General Liberal Arts major.

Now in its 42nd year, Rider’s Model U.N. Team, under the advisement of Dr. Barbara Franz, associate professor of Political Science, gives students a chance to experience how the United Nations handles and resolves world problems and issues. Students of all majors are encouraged to join because a range of backgrounds is needed to make future delegations successful.