University of the Virgin Islands students will participate in the first ever UVI Model United Nations Conference from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 21, in the Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus. The conference offers a simulation of the committees and programs of the United Nations. Through this conference, UVI students will have an opportunity to gain a better sense of international concerns, policies, and affairs. Students will also have a chance to improve on their communication skills as they learn the approaches of debate, deliberation and development of solutions to world problems.

Students from both the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses will participate. The students participating from St. Croix are Christopher Cockrell, Ashley Libitz, Lester Rasul, Junia Shillingford and Miguelina Valdez. Participating from St. Thomas are Daniella Arrindell, Joylette Hunte-Gore, Magdalene Morancie, Dwayne Petersen, and Julian Warner.

Students from the St. Croix delegation will represent the Nation of Eritrea, while the St. Thomas delegation will represent the Ivory Coast. Some of the topics to be discussed include border disputes, female genital manipulation, child labor laws, sexually transmitted diseases, and other areas of concern.

Dr. Kula Francis, Assistant Professor of Political Science at UVI, is advisor to the competing students.

In addition to the simulation of the United Nations, the conference offers an essay contest open to all UVI students. The topic of the essay competition is: On March 25, the United Nations celebrated International Day of Remembrance of the victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. In your opinion, what are some of the important reasons for observing this day? Essays must be one to two doubled spaced pages and submitted by April 17. An essay winner will receive a book scholarship to assist in the cost of textbooks and school supplies.

The UVI Model United Nations Conference is sponsored by UVI's Humanities and Social Sciences Division along with Rotary Club Harborview and Rotary Club West, both on St. Croix. Rotary Harborview's President, Sonia L. Boyce, believes that students need to become aware of the issues affecting countries around the world while learning how to intelligently and peacefully negotiate and debate with individuals from backgrounds that may be different from their own.

For more information about UVI's Model United Nations Conference or the essay contest contact Dr. Kula Francis at 692-4065 or kfranci@uvi.edu.