Adrian College Impresses at Model Arab League
posted 2/24/09
Students discuss Arab politics and history at Grand Valley State University

ADRIAN, Mich. – Adrian College students participated in the Michigan University Model Arab League Conference this past weekend at Grand Valley State University. Michigan is one of a dozen states that sponsor a state-wide, university level Model, held annually in late February.

Model Arab League is a student leadership development program administered by the National Council on U.S. - Arab Relations. Participants learn about the politics and history of the Arab world and the arts of diplomacy and public speech. It is also a gateway to exchange programs in the Arabic world.

Adrian College made a very impressive showing when it attended the MAL last year for the first time. This year the students were nothing short of spectacular.

AC's team won multiple speaking awards on nearly every Arab League council. Specifically: Chris Ronquist and Bryan Paps, representing Iraq, were awarded Best Delegation to the Joint Defense Council; Perry Kuipers and Sara Smithers (Iraq) tied George Stauch and Mitch Harris (Somalia) for Best Delegation to the Council of Arab Social Affairs Ministers; Amanda Liske (United Arab Emirates) tied David Johnson and Ali Bani Mustafa (Iraq) for Honorable Mention Best Delegation to the Council on Political Affairs; Kourtney Price (Somalia) won the Individual Excellence award granted by the chair of the Council on Political Affairs; and Troy Niblock and Andy Fox (Iraq) were awarded Best Delegation to the Council of Arab Environmental Affairs Ministers.

Adrian College's Iraqi delegation, which included Stan Rooksberry and Amber Williams as well as Andy, Troy, Bryan, Chris, Ali, David, Perry and Sara, tied the U of M Dearborn (Bahrain) for Best Overall Delegation. Shane Hinson, a junior, not only performed commendably chairing a council for the first time, but was also elected Assistant Secretary General for 2009-2010. He will therefore be working very closely with Grand Valley State University over the next year in organizing the 2010 Michigan Model.

It is an additional tribute to the College’s students that Erin Berg, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ representative to the Michigan MAL, has asked Dr. Philip J. Howe, assistant professor of political science, to speak with her about how Adrian College recruits students to its MAL team. She has also strongly suggested that AC should be nominated to attend the national Model Arab League, which is held annually in Washington, D.C., in the near future.

Adrian College's Model Arab League program was founded in 2008-2009 by Dr. Philip J. Howe and Dr. Sheri Bleam as a joint project of the political science and communication arts and sciences departments. It is currently taught in both departments by Dr. Howe and David Takitaki, adjunct professor of communication.

More information may be obtained by contacting Dr. Howe at 517- 264-3949 or via e-mail at phowe@adrian.edu.