Contact: Sammy McDavid
More than 300 world-minded students and teachers gather at Mississippi State next week for the university's 21st annual simulation of the United Nations' representative assembly.
Participants from nearly 20 high schools, one college and four universities are on campus Thursday through Saturday [Feb. 10-12] for the 2000 Mississippi Model Security Council. Activities will take place in the Colvard Union and nearby YMCA Building.
In addition to assuming major leadership roles in mock council sessions, the students and teachers will work directly with two career U.N. diplomats. Both ambassadors Baboucarr-Blaise I. Jagne of Gambia and Yukio Takasu of Japan are members of their nations' permanent missions to the New York City-based world body.
"These simulations of Security Council deliberations provide an opportunity for all involved to test skills of diplomacy, negotiation and compromise in solving world problems," said Rickey L. Travis, associate professor of political science and Model U.N. director.
At 10:45 a.m. Friday [the 11th], both diplomats will be part of a general question-and-answer session open to the general public in the YMCA auditorium. Also open to the public is a Thursday [the 10th] address by Ambassador Jagne at 1:15 p.m. in the Colvard Union ballroom.
Signed in 1945 by the United States and 49 other nations, the U.N. charter gives the Security Council "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security." Though principally concerned with the resolution of conflicts, it is the only U.N. body with the power to create and deploy peacekeeping forces.
In addition to the political science department, this year's Mississippi Model Security Council is sponsored by MSU's College of Arts and Sciences, John C. Stennis Institute of Government and University Honors Program.