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COMMENTARY FEBRUARY 26, 2004 - Page 7 Harvardhosts Model UN BRYAN RENBAUM STAFF WRITER Thousands of college students from all over' the world gathered at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel in down- town Boston last week for a Model United Nations con- ference sponsored by Harvard University. Among the crowd were 17 students ::J7=:~m~=~;uo~:V~~::::=7ni~ ..C:.~~~~~i~ffis~:!:~·f~~:~.~·a~;~or representing McDaniel Col- TotiyMolntire lege. "There were kids there ROTC training from places such as Canada Mco.niel siudents participat" in the mooel UN SurnrnLtin iloston and South America and we got to discuss important sues with them, said Sopho- is- issues affecting their par- Students take the plunge with more Jesse Ringgold. "We ticular country from an Looking Back also learned a lot about how American perspective." clothes on - and much more the UN works." Senior Carrie Vivian, a Before traveling to Bos- senior, said that she found UN trip ton, students were required it very interesting to learn PHOTOS BY SARAH BLACK to take a course at McDaniel about the difficulties facing Third World that would prepare them for developing as they compete a success the mock general assembly. nations They were assigned a coun- with the West for political try to represent (Sierra Leone) and economic power. ~'We Just talk to anyone who and many of them journeyed got to feel what it was like went to the recent Harvard to the library at john Hopkins to be in the shoes of those Model United University. After they com- nations," she said. tions summit in pleted extensive research, the Senior Sharon ton and they students then crafted a posi- Desperak said, "I found it tell you great tion paper that would help fascinating to learn about ries and recall them understand what that all the diplomatic deals that much fun they nation's stand would be on our country and other certain global issues. countries use to get mo- Iwas the "I have been doing this tions passed by the assem- representative for Sierra Leone for five years and Ithink our bly." in a specialized agency named Even the African Union. students are always prepared "I think it's a wonder- though Sierra Leone is a small, to debate the issues they have ful opportunity for stu- West African nation, our del- researched," said Dr. Volker dents to do research and Franke, one of the key mem- broaden their perspectives, egation was prepared and vo- cal enough to make the resolu- bers of McDaniel's Political said Dr. Johnson-Ross, who tion reflect Sierra Leone's inter- Science department present joined Franke as a faculty ests. We presented in front of at the assembly. "However, representative at the con- hundreds strangers including the one thing I regret is that ference. "They all had a re- students from Yale and West some of the students from ally good time and came Point. other schools seem to be less back to my classroom with While we spent almost JuniorJakeMichaeIOeft}pA'parestobepusheciintheW'lerbyNicolcPrush. Helh." prepared for the assembly, plenty of stories and swims 15 mete", holding a "'Phca of an M·16. Other.; lest> Included an equ'pmcntdmp every day arguing in commit- andpraoticewithnotariondevices and wind up presenting the smiles." tees, the first day we had .an opportunity to explore Boston. Because ofour very early flight on Thursday, we had six hours Media diminishes perspective . before the Opening Ceremony. to wander the streets of Boston Two of my friends and walked the Freedom Trailfrom I "America is becormng is, as Merriam-Webster de- ply consume what the media Limbaugh and others offer more conservative and less cos- fines, having international so- offers. Part of the problem is this sort of news/entertain- Government Center to the USS Constitution and back, visiting mopolitan," notes the January phistication. Knowledge of that media in America is com- ment. Most of what they an old church, a cemetery park, 2nd edition of The Economist. other cultures, languages, mercialized. As a result, what claim on the air is embel- the Big Dig and other interest- More conservative? That and news gives one a varied often motivates the media is lished and opinionated. The ing Sights on the way. claim is and more accurate perspec- the Almighty Dollar; problem Americans run into We also had time in the up foe tive on the world and one newsworthiness is defined is taking what these, and evenings to go out together to great de- that is less based on stereo- by what will sell the most what all the media states, as restaurants and those of us bate.con- types. Yet the media in papers or what will have the fact. who were 21 had the chance to sidering America blocks our aware- highest viewership. Most Americans do not some visit colorfullrish pubs. a recent Thus, the news re- have the eclectic exposure Even though the Simulation poll con- International affairs ported is often unimportant that they need to look at the was frustrating at times, it d u cted rarely receive air time on the from a global perspective -the news with a critical eye. turned out to be fun for every- by USA 11 o'clock news. Can you O.J. Simpson trial comes to Though the American media one. All of us became friends, Today name who was implicated in mind. The media's goal is to is vast, it does not offer the even though it was a diverse and CNN which reveals that the Hutton Report concern- profit, and newspapers do diverse coverage that inter- group. George W. Bush trailed the dual ing the suicide of David what they can to turn that national news organizations Such small things like democratic Johns (Edwards Kelley? What countries are profit. often do. "How are you doing?" after and Kerry) when he was joining the European Union When the government As a result, many read- committee sessions bonded us matched against each opponent this summer? What disease has some control over cover- ers can probably name together, and madeus ask each head to head. has caused a great scare in age, the news becomes re- Michael Jackson's attorney other, "Why didn't we hang Less cosmopolitan? This South Asia? stricted and biased. Look to but not Canada's president. out before?" One thing I can assertion is accurate without If you are unable to an- Zimbabwe, where a free daily This country's lack of cosmo- say for sure is that the simula- question. When it comes to the swer these questions, do not paper was recently shut politanism will come back tion was fun last year and it knowledge of non-US news fret. Most of America's popu- down, and Italy, where the and bite us. It already has .. was just as much fun this year. events and understanding for- lation is not aware of much Prime Minister owns 90% of It was an unforgettable four eign customs, the general that is going on beyond its the nation's cable networks, ROB GOEKE, days. Thank you Sierra Leone! . population is by and large quite borders, let alone across the to see the potential pitfalls of COMMENTARY EDITOR FRU NAGY, NEWS EOflDR ignorant. two oceans it lies between. non-commercialized media. What is cosmopolitan? It Most Amercians sim- Bill O'Reilly, Rush