Model U.N. Society to host 25th annual conference for high school students

Old Dominion's Model United Nations Society will host its 25th annual Model U.N. High School Conference Feb. 13-16 at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel.

More than 40 high schools from the eastern United States, Albania, India, Kosovo and Macedonia are expected to participate. In all, 1,000 students are expected.

Participants will meet in sessions - just as their counterparts in the United Nations do in New York - to discuss such issues as disarmament and international security, trade and development, racism, and security.

A seminar on "Ethnic Conflict" for teachers attending the conference will also be held. It is being organized by Don Zeigler, professor of geography, and is co-sponsored by the Center for Regional and Global Study, the VirginiaGeographic Alliance and Old Dominion's Model U.N.

Featured guests scheduled to attend include Monica Aleman, international advocacy coordinator for the human rights organization Madre and a key player in the United Nations World Conference Against Racism in South Africa; Jerry Booker-Weiner, founder of Old Dominion's Model U.N. and currently executive director of international programs at Colorado State University; Jean-Bernard Gazarian, senior fellow and coordinator of the training programs for permanent missions for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research; and Melissa Yahre, Model U.N. program administrator for the United Nations Association of the USA.

In celebration of the program's 25th anniversary, Jerome Bookin-Weiner will speak at the opening ceremony. He will be introduced by John Heyl, executive director of international programs. President Roseann Runte will deliver the welcoming remarks.

For more information about Old Dominion's Model U.N. Society call 683-3923 or visit web.odu.edu/al/mun/odumun.