Nineteen Denison students took part in the 20th Annual American Model United Nations conference from Nov. 21 through Nov. 24 in Chicago. The students represented the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the conference, which modeled approximately 100 United Nation Member States, and hosted more than 1,500 university students from the United States and abroad.

Five Denison students received awards for their outstanding performance. They include: Rachel Atkins (Troy, Ohio); Heather Fishel (Harbor City, Calif.); Brandon Haas (Fayetteville, Ark.); Evan Johnson (Columbus, Ohio); and Erin Saul (Cincinnati, Ohio).

Haas earned a Best Advocate award for his presentation of Saudi Arabia's case before the International Court of Justice, requesting an advisory opinion on the “Legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the occupied Palestinian territory.”

Atkins and Fishel earned Best Delegate awards in the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The topics they debated were “Expanding the capacity of communities to provide information, treatment, health care and social services to people living with HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne diseases in the context of drug abuse and strengthening monitoring, evaluation and reporting systems,” and “the need for a balance between demand for and supply of opiates used to meet medical and scientific needs.”

Johnson and Saul earned Best Delegate awards in the Economic and Social Council. The topics they debated included “Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women,” “Mainstreaming disability in the development agenda,” and “Annual Ministerial Review: Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to global public health.”

These awards represent an all-time best for Denison University at the annual conference, and Denison students will represent Pakistan at next year’s American Model United Nations conference simulation.

American Model United Nations Inc. (AMUN) is a non-profit, educational organization founded in 1989 to provide students with the highest quality, most professionally run simulation of the United Nations available. AMUN strives to combine educational quality with highly realistic simulations of the United Nations to give students an unparalleled Model UN learning experience.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

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Barbara Stambaugh

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Director, Media Relations

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stambaughb@denison.edu

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(740) 587-8575