Under the Arch

GANNON TO HOST 55th ANNUAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Some 18 regional high schools will be among the more than 70 represented when Gannon University hosts its 55^th annual Model United Nations Nov. 9-10.

Overall, some 700 high school students from as far away as Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Cleveland, and central Pennsylvania are expected to participate in the two-day event.

Gannon’s Model UN is designed to help students acquire certain life skills necessary to meet the challenges of the 21^st century. By preparing for and then participating in a simulation of the United Nations, students develop and use critical and creative thinking skills to gain a global perspective on issues confronting the international community.

An additional benefit of the Model UN is allowing students to enhance their leadership and communication skills while helping them empathize with people of diverse countries, cultures, and viewpoints.

The students and schools have been assigned country delegations and will represent the political views of that country during the two-day session at Gannon. Participating local schools (and their country designations in parentheses): Fort LeBoeuf (Japan); East High School (India); North East High School (Indonesia); Central Tech (Sri Lanka); Harbor Creek (Philippines); Mercyhurst Prep (Thailand); Iroquois (China); McDowell (Qatar, Kuwait, and Yemen); Cathedral Prep (Syria); Villa Maria (Saudi Arabia); Northwestern (Jordan); General McLane (Lebanon); Fairview (Israel); Collegiate Academy (Iraq); Cambridge Springs (Iran); Maplewood (Haiti); Titusville (Cuba); and Oil City (Belize).

They will argue and debate the following topics during the General Assembly:

Confronting the threat of Global Terrorism.
Peaceful and cooperative uses of outer space.
Strengthening the fight against global AIDS infection.
Promoting world gender equality.
Safeguarding the status of refugees in regions of conflict.

Background on Gannon University’s Model United Nations

Gannon’s Model UN includes both a Model Security Council and an Economic and Social Council. The Model Security Council, with membership closely corresponding to that of the actual United Nations, discusses situations and resolutions central to the maintenance of international peace and security. While the agenda for the Model Security Council will be open, a provisional agenda will be suggested and discussion begun in regional block meetings.

The Economic and Social Council addresses problems ranging from the issue of humanitarian aid to the sharing of worldwide medical resources and personnel.

Each high school’s delegation to the Model UN can include 10 regular delegates, a member or observer to the Security Council, and an alternate delegate. Upon request of the school – depending on their level of student interest – second and third delegations can be assigned. Each delegation must have a minimum of six students participating.

In the spring or early fall, student delegations are assigned country designations and are encouraged to begin studying the issues which will be considered at the actual event at Gannon. Students also are to learn the viewpoints and policies of the country/government they are assigned to represent. During the session, they are to vote according to the interests of that country.

Participating students are eligible for scholarships should they decide to attend Gannon.

RECENT NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

News of interest on and around campus...

Congratulations to head coach Rob van Rheenen and the Gannon men’s soccer team. On Saturday night, the Knights captured the inaugural GLIAC men’s soccer championship with a 2-0 win over Northwood. The game was played before 855 fans at Gannon University Field. Gannon (16-2-1) had advanced to the title game with a 3-2 overtime win over Mercyhurst in the semifinals.
Special thanks to Gannon colleagues for their help with media interview requests. Dr. Dolores Sarafinski, English professor, retired, was interviewed during Saturday’s Hooked on Books! Read-a-thon held in the Yehl Room. Dr. Garibaldi and Emily Klepps, assistant director, Admissions, spoke to the media during Sunday’s Open House. An estimated 400 students attended. In addition, Dr. Stephen Frezza, associate professor, software engineering, and chairperson, computer and information sciences, did an interview with Jim Martin of the Erie Times-News for an article on recent Gannon graduate Robert Medeksza. The article ran on Sunday, Nov. 4 and detailed how Medeksza and his company, Zabaware, won the Loebner Prize Competition for Artificial Intelligence. Robert’s father, Dr. Ludwik Medeksza, is a professor in Gannon’s mechanical engineering department. Congratulations to Robert.
Their two tons worth: More than 150 Gannon students, faculty, and staff volunteered for the recent food drive to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank. They collected more than 4,200 pounds of food. Thanks to all who made the event a great success!

CAMPUS EVENTS

Friday-Saturday, November 9-10 – Gannon University’s Model United Nations: The 55th annual session will include students from more than 70 high schools from the tri-state region. See above for more information on the event.
Tuesday, November 13 – Global Banquet: 5 p.m. in the Yehl Room. The event is part of both International Education Week and Hunger and Homelessness Week and is designed to raise hunger awareness. Call ext. 7433 for more information.
Thursday, November 15 – Lunch n Learn: The speaker will be Elisa Konieczko, Ph.D., who will discuss the “Controversy and Promise of Stem Cells.” The event is free and will be held at 12 p.m. in the Old Main Boardroom.
Monday, November 19 – Faculty Scholarship Celebration: 3 p.m. in the Yehl Room. Come and honor your colleagues.
Thursday, November 29 – Graduate and Adult Open House: Scheduled for 3:30-6 p.m. in the third floor lobby area of the Palumbo Center. The application fee will be waived for all attendees.
“Our Events” is intended to serve as a random sample of campus events. For a more complete listing, refer to Eventcal.

THE PRESIDENT’S SCHEDULE

Monday, November 5 – College Restructuring Forum; ABET Accreditation Visit (Nov. 5-6). Tuesday, November 6 – Investment Subcommittee meeting. Thursday, November 8 – Gannon University Board of Trustees’ retreat and meetings; Community Mass. Friday, November 9 – Gannon University Board of Trustees’ meetings.

PRAYER CONCERNS

Please remember all in your prayers as regretfully we announce the deaths of:

Helen Packard, mother of Marilyn Mitchell, adjunct faculty member, math dept.
Elza Wayne Chitester, Jr., father of Dr. Betty Jo Chitester, assistant professor, chemistry.

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

Bernadette Hattjar. Caitlen Haynes. Kenneth Brundage. Valerie Baker. Elmer Morrison. Terrance Kizina. Judy Johnson. Elizabeth DeAngelo. John Carrig. Brigid Wilcox. Barbara Niebauer. Suzanne Sturdivant. Travis Wyant. Christine Cedzo. Robert Tarkowski. Heidi Noyes. Pamela Verity. Greg Sarbak. Lyubov Tereshchuk. Russell Combs. Bernadette Agresti. Theresa Horanic. Merri Beth Knappenberger. Galen Adams. Michael Dunlavey. Fred Showalter. Howard Fyock. Grady Smith. Christian Kramer. Clarice Adams. Susan DePaul. Erin Wright. Laura Brown. Michael Ferralli. Keven Beringer. Holly Jodon. Mary Beth Earll. John Buchna. Jill Chelko. Tim Kuzma. Ross Jones. David Groh. Denise Schlick. John Lyons. Laurie Curlett. Mary Karg. Rev. Jason Glover. Shaun Curtiss. Daniel Tingley.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Raising the Trophy: Gannon University recently won the sixth annual WQLN Collegiate Challenge Competition. WQLN (91.3 FM) sponsors a fall pledge drive to raise money to support public broadcasting. This year, Gannon raised $11,786 for WQLN, a 33 percent increase over last year’s total of $8,856. Gannon won the competition based upon having the largest increase from the previous year’s total. Dr. Garibaldi (far left) is shown above accepting the trophy with (left to right) Tom New, WQLN’s director of creative services; Tracy B. Ferrier, WQLN’s vice president and director of major gifts; and Dwight Miller, the station’s president and general manager.