|
Hampden-Sydney Represents Paraguay in the Washington Model OAS
Photo Gallery
Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday
Ten Hampden-Sydney students (Jay Beckner [06], Adam
Crutchfield [06], Hunter Frederick [06], Mike Matthews [09], Melvin “Tony” Moore
[07], Mark Pinto [06], Scott Raney [06], Alex Rowland [08], Cory Scruggs [06]
and Corey Van Vlymen [08] ) represented Paraguay at the 26th general
session of the Washington Model Organization of American States, from April
9-14. The Model OAS is a simulation that is attended by colleges from across
the United States and Latin America.
 Tony Moore was elected Secretary-General for next year’s
Model—the highest position in the OAS—and Mike Matthews’ resolution on water
privatization was selected as the resolution that stimulated the “best debate.”
Mike presented his resolution at the symbolic closing session of the Model in
the OAS Hall of the Americas. This is the third year in succession that a
Hampden-Sydney resolution was chosen for “best
debate.”
Another highlight of the week was a brief audience with
Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. After having their picture taken with
Secretary Rice, the students had opportunity to ask her several questions and
she asked about Hampden-Sydney and the Model. The visit with the Secretary was
made possible by George Rowland, the father of sophomore Alex Rowland. Mr.
Rowland, a member of the advance team for the Secretary’s travels, has served
every Secretary since George Schultz as well as serving postings in North and
Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. Mr. Rowland shared some of his
experiences with the Hampden-Sydney team over lunch in the Department cafeteria
then took us for a tour of the Department Operations Center. The students also
met with Carla Poletti Serafini, Alternative Representative to the Paraguayan
Delegation at the Organization of American States who answered questions about
her country and reviewed the resolutions that the team planned to present at the
Model.
(L. to R.): Scott Raney, Cory Scruggs, Mike Matthews, Mark Pinto, the Secretary, Jay Beckner, Ken Lehman, Alex Rowland, and Corey Van Vlymen
A day-by-day account of the week in
Washington follows:
Sunday, April 9: Scott Raney (06) reporting
After meeting in the Maples
parking lot at 10 A.M., the morning after Greek Week, Hampden-Sydney’s
representatives rode up to D.C. together in the deluxe accommodations of one of
Hampden-Sydney’s finest full-sized Chevrolet Vans. Upon arriving at the OAS
Headquarters, our delegation entered the main meeting room of the actual OAS
building on the mall. Once we took our seats, opening remarks were made by the
Director of External Relations of the OAS, as well as two of the faculty
organizers of the model.
Following these opening speeches,
the head delegate from each school participating in the model (Hampden-Sydney’s
Paraguay delegation headed by Tony Moore) gave an opening speech that outlined
the key concerns of the nation they represented that week. Then, with the
opening speeches out of the way, the head-delegates participated in a mock
debate, which essentially allowed those of us who had never participated in an
actual Model OAS, to observe the proper form for a debate. The mock debate
showed how to present questions and handle ourselves as delegates in the
meetings that would follow in the days to come. The Model OAS stresses formal
debate and the constant maintenance of diplomatic demeanor. Once the debate
wrapped up, the meeting was adjourned, and we went to our respective committees
where we had a chance to introduce ourselves to the delegations from the other
schools participating in the model. This concluded our first busy day, and we
then settled into our hotel rooms.
Monday, April 10: Jay Beckner (06) reporting
The Hampden-Sydney MOAS delegation representing
Paraguay began its first full day in Washington, D.C. by visiting the Paraguayan
Mission to the OAS. The students were able to ask Third Secretary Carla Poletti
and her assistant, questions and get their opinions of the draft resolutions
that we would be presenting over the course of the week. The people at the
Mission were able to give insightful critiques of each resolution. These
critiques helped us make any necessary changes to our draft resolutions before
getting the signatures from other delegations we needed prior to turning the
resolutions into the faculty committee for review. Our group presented the
Mission with a few gifts to thank them for taking the time to meet with us.
After lunch, the first committee
sessions began for the MOAS. My committee, the budget committee, was the last
to meet that day, and did not convene until 5:30 in the afternoon. The first
draft resolution presented to the committee caused a great deal of debate that
took an hour and a half to resolve. The budget committee only completed debate
on two draft resolutions that first day; however, this number signifies the
quality of the debate this week. The Hampden-Sydney MOAS delegates look forward
to more inspiring debate as the week continues.
Tuesday: April 11: Alex Rowland (08) Reporting
A new day; we wake up at 7:30 am
after another short night in the capital. Some delegations are restless but
still geared and focused on the next several sessions of debate in their
respective committees. Today should be a little easier on our delegation due to
the fact that we are going to see the Secretary of State in a few hours, but we
must first get through our first session of debate. We get there on time, still
a little tired and exhausted from the previous day. The General Committee is
still working on our first packet of the three that we are to complete by the
end of the week. We are still arguing with each other and trying to come to
agreement and compromise so that we can proceed on our agenda. Time passes and
it is time to ask to be excused from the committee so that we can meet the
Secretary of State. We talk to chairs and make motions to our committees to
excuse us for this important meeting. Some in our group sacrifice the
opportunity to meet with the Secretary in order to stay and make certain that
Paraguay will be represented in the rigorous debating that is still continuing
inside our committees.
As we head to the US State Department in the
Hampden-Sydney van we discus how the model is going so far and what we might
need to do to improve to give our small country a voice. The schedule on our
arrival at the State Department is a tour of the 8th floor of Main
State where the foreign officials come for receptions and gatherings. The rooms
on the 8th floor that we walked through were filled with great works of art and
elegant furnishings and sculptures. Those rooms were furnished by former
presidents from their own personal collections or with donations from friends of
the State Department. After our tour of the 8th Floor, we meet
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to take some photos and ask a few
questions. She is interested in learning about our college and our mission in
Washington at the Model OAS. After the meeting we proceed to grab a bite to eat
before our last scheduled tour of the Operations Center. The Operations Center
is the brain of the State Department that allows the US to react to issues as
they unfold. As soon as we finished that tour we rushed back to the hotel to
our respective committees where we continued debating our resolution.
Wednesday: April 12
This was a full day of debate with many of our
resolutions making it to the floor today. Every Paraguayan resolution that got
presented eventually was passed though some stirred more debate than others.
Tony Moore’s resolution on improving the OAS monitoring system for drug
trafficking passed by acclamation in a matter of minutes. Mike Matthew’s
resolution on water privatization, on the other hand, stirred a debate that went
on for almost two hours. After much discussion and a number of amendments, that
resolution also passed unanimously. Mark Pinto, Cory Scruggs, Scott Raney, Alex
Rowland, and Hunter Frederick also got their resolutions passed. Adam
Crutchfield’s resolution on corruption was sent to a working group where he
hammered out a joint resolution with the delegation of Guatemala. Jay Beckner’s
resolution was sent back on a technicality and Corey Van Vlymen’s resolution
died in committee.
At the end of a long day, the officers of the
Model proposed that all the delegations meet that night for salsa dancing. Some
of us did that, some of us watched Pedro Martinez and the Mets blank the
Nationals, and some did both. In one way or another, everyone enjoyed their
last night in Washington.
Thursday, April 13: Cory Scruggs (06) and Mark Pinto (06) reporting
The Model began this morning with the beat of
the gavel by the Chair, which made all delegates stir and raise their heavy
heads. The night before the Model Chairs invited all participating delegates to
join them for salsa dancing at a nearby club. Argentina and Mexico had written
a joint resolution dealing with the forced disappearance of persons throughout
the Hemisphere, which was now up for debate on this too early morning. It
passed after much debate and amending. Moments before bringing the amended
resolution to a final vote, I make a motion to allow the gentleman present to
remove their jackets. The motion passes unanimously. Sounds of relaxation are
heard as the men remove blazers and suit jackets. This is one way to gain favor
with your fellow delegates; another is to call for an informal caucusing
sessions after hours of debate. Eventually, someone will make such a motion;
however, it is best if you are the first to do so.
The final resolution of the day,
presented by Guatemala, dealt with in-kind assistance to underdeveloped regions
of the Hemisphere. “In-kind” means assistance other than monetary funding; for
example, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) might supply machinery to build
roads as needed. At first glance, the resolution seemed solid; helping the poor
while bypassing the deep pockets of potentially corrupt politicians seemed to
make sense to this Paraguayan delegate. However; on closer examination, I
realize that the wording of the resolution threatens the sovereignty of my
nation. Thinking it was a good resolution, I signed it on Monday morning,
meaning I have no choice but to vote for it now, unless I call for an amendment,
which has to pass. I am no longer required to support a resolution I’ve signed
once it is amended. Therefore, I call for a small amendment to the first
operative clause of the resolution. The amendment passes and I am freed from my
commitment and back in line with my fellow Mercosur partners, such as, Argentina
and Venezuela.
Session is over! On Thursday
afternoon, we pack our bags, check out of the hotel, and load up the
Hampden-Sydney van. Lucky for us we did not have a long trip home compared to
the delegations from Argentina, Colombia, and Guatemala. However, our trip was
not over yet. We had to attend the closing ceremony at the OAS building
directly across from the White House.
By this point we were exhausted from a long
week of debating, researching, preparing, and some night time fun in D.C. The
delegations gathered in the Hall of Americas, where ambassadors and other
dignitaries deliberate during actual OAS sessions. To our surprise, one of our
students, Mike Matthews (class of ’09), wrote the resolution that got awarded
“best debate.” Hampden-Sydney has received this honor three years running. A
mock session was organized to show the students the amount of debate and work
that Mike’s resolution stimulated. However, Hampden-Sydney had not finished
making her mark at the model OAS.
Melvin “Tony” Moore (class of ’07)
ran for Secretary General for next year’s model. Tony went through a week of
campaigning as he rounded up his votes. In the Hall of Americas, Melvin gave an
exceptional speech and won the election. We were all very pleased with the
outcome. After the elections, we listened to some closing remarks and a speech
from the Assistant Secretary General of the actual OAS. A long trip back to
Farmville was next on the agenda.
We said our goodbyes to other
delegations and the beautiful, cherry blossoms. As we pulled away, the
Washington Monument slowly faded. Our conversations on the van ranged from
politics, to history, to our good times at the model. Some of us closed our
eyes and could not wait to get back to more comfortable beds. Tomorrow, school
and homework would again become a reality as we made our way back to the hills
of Hampden-Sydney.
|
