The Suffolk University International Affairs Association(SUIAA) participated in a week-long conference in New York City.  This year, 22 student delegates represented Spain in different committees facing issues in the global community.

Once the conference began last week, 193 countries with representatives in all committee groups worked together to resolve a specific issue.  Committees included a Human Rights Council, the Committee on Trade and Development, and more.  Other, more in-depth problems were also addressed, such as Israeli settlements in Palestine in terms of the economy, the infrastructure, and the agricultural sector.

In the months before the conference, student delegates were assigned three topics for discussion within their committee.  They conducted research on these topics and collaborated to effectively discuss them with representatives from all 192 other countries within their committee at the conference.  Then, groups of countries, or blocks, got together to write a resolution paper to solve one of the three assigned topics.

This group is lead by first-year President Carol León.  During a team meeting held on Tuesday April 2, delegates discussed the high and low points of the conference including ways to improve their methods for next year.

“I didn’t know how well I did at first,” said first year member Andrew Fallon.  “Initially, I was disappointed in my performance, but after thinking about it—I know what I need to do next time.”

The team also discussed ways to improve research and how to be better prepared.

“This was one of the best conferences we’ve had,” said León.  “It was definitely a life changing experience; I learned to become a better leader.  It was not only a good time, but a great learning experience.”

This seems to be a defining year for SUIAA.  All Board members agreed that even with the large percentage of new team members, everyone did an outstanding job.  Spain was prosperous in each of the committees thanks to the teamwork skills of Suffolk’s student delegates.

“We had a lot of new students this year,” said Head Delegate Kaila Millett.  “They threw themselves into the committees so I was really proud of everyone.  Overall, we’ve done the best we’ve ever done.”

The SUIAA would like to thank their sponsors for this year’s conference, Vice Provost Royo, WLCS, the Sawyer Business School, Suffolk’s SGA, Walter Caffey and the Government Department.  The group is also in the process of planning another conference to be held at Yale University in the fall.