Eleven students from Hamilton’s Model European Union team and faculty advisor Alan Cafruny, the Henry Platt Bristol Professor of International Affairs, attended the 23rd annual EuroSim conference in Antwerp, Belgium, on Jan. 5-10. The topic of this year’s conference was Russia-EU relations and Hamilton students took on a variety of roles, including members of the delegation from the Czech Republic, the Justice Minister of Ireland, and several members of Parliament. Several students participated in leadership capacities, including the Czech Republic Head of Government (Brandon Moore ’12) and the EUL-NGL rapporteur and party coordinator and leader (Hanna Kahrmann-Zadak ’12).
Other Hamilton participants were Jamie Azdair ’13, Amanda Barnes ’12, Sam Doyon ’12, Alex Singh ’11, Brett Shannon ’11, Erich Romero ‘12, Elizabeth Scholz ’13, Stephanie Shapiro ’12 and Kasey Kaspar Hildonen ‘10.
The simulation involved the evaluation and amendment process of a commission proposal presented by one of the participating schools and all formalities of process within the EU were followed. Students gained vast knowledge of the international relations within the EU and developed their negotiations skills. The program included a lecture series to complement the simulation, with presentations from Russian relations specialists; members of both the Flemish Parliament and the EU Parliament; and the First Secretary and Unit Chief of the U.S. mission to the EU.
Hamilton students engaged in the simulation with more than 200 students from 22 other universities from the U.S. and Europe. As a club activity, Hamilton students participated at the same level as students involved in classes specifically related to the conference, as well as law school students specializing in European law. In order to perform in a conference of this caliber, the Hamilton team began preparing in late August, meeting weekly and working individually on the views of their alter egos.
Apart from working closely with students from other universities, Hamilton students also made connections and new friendships with students holding similar passions for EU policy and international negotiations. EuroSim is devoted to spreading cross-cultural learning and networking, and Hamilton supports the Model European Union team in these endeavors.
Previous EuroSim conferences attended by Hamilton College Model European Union include those in Buffalo, N.Y., and Otzenhausen, Germany. The Model European Union team is funded by Student Assembly, the Levitt Center, and the Office of the President.
Student author Kasey Kaspar Hildonen '10 is a graduate of Marianopolis Preparatory School, Thompson, Conn.
Other Hamilton participants were Jamie Azdair ’13, Amanda Barnes ’12, Sam Doyon ’12, Alex Singh ’11, Brett Shannon ’11, Erich Romero ‘12, Elizabeth Scholz ’13, Stephanie Shapiro ’12 and Kasey Kaspar Hildonen ‘10.
The simulation involved the evaluation and amendment process of a commission proposal presented by one of the participating schools and all formalities of process within the EU were followed. Students gained vast knowledge of the international relations within the EU and developed their negotiations skills. The program included a lecture series to complement the simulation, with presentations from Russian relations specialists; members of both the Flemish Parliament and the EU Parliament; and the First Secretary and Unit Chief of the U.S. mission to the EU.
Hamilton students engaged in the simulation with more than 200 students from 22 other universities from the U.S. and Europe. As a club activity, Hamilton students participated at the same level as students involved in classes specifically related to the conference, as well as law school students specializing in European law. In order to perform in a conference of this caliber, the Hamilton team began preparing in late August, meeting weekly and working individually on the views of their alter egos.
Apart from working closely with students from other universities, Hamilton students also made connections and new friendships with students holding similar passions for EU policy and international negotiations. EuroSim is devoted to spreading cross-cultural learning and networking, and Hamilton supports the Model European Union team in these endeavors.
Previous EuroSim conferences attended by Hamilton College Model European Union include those in Buffalo, N.Y., and Otzenhausen, Germany. The Model European Union team is funded by Student Assembly, the Levitt Center, and the Office of the President.
Student author Kasey Kaspar Hildonen '10 is a graduate of Marianopolis Preparatory School, Thompson, Conn.
