For Immediate Release:                                Contact:
March 21, 2005                                    Cris Stoddard
12:00 PM                                            (719) 238-8782



University of Colorado Students Tackle Challenges of the United Nations

Model United Nations Club at UCCS hosts a dinner lecture and silent
auction to raise funds for attending conferences in Denver and Ottawa.

Colorado Springs, CO -March 21, 2005

It was a cold week in Ottawa, Canada, but eight students from the
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, journeyed north to role play
United Nations delegates from the countries of Argentina and Uruguay.
They, along with their faculty advisor, Dr. Patricia Keilbach, just
returned from The Canadian International Model United Nations (CANIMUN)
Conference, held March 9-12.  According to Dr. Keilbach, “We earned a
fine reputation at the conference as a result of the diplomatic success
of our team members. The UCCS students were major contributors in their
committees and many other delegates turned to our students throughout
the conference for information, ideas and advice.”

Serving on committees ranging from the UN General Assembly to the UN
High Commission for Refugees, the students had a rare opportunity to
participate in an International bi-lingual conference and to negotiate
resolutions with students around the world on issues of global
importance. Heather McAfee, a junior at UCCS, received an Honorable
Mention award for playing the Uruguayan delegate to the UN Environment
Programme, the first International award received by any UCCS Model
United Nations student.

Model UN Club President and UCCS junior Jessica Lundie glowed, “The
opportunity to attend a conference of this magnitude coming from a
smaller state university made us all feel very fortunate.”  Ms. Lundie
played the Argentine delegate to the Summit on HIV/AIDs committee and
was instrumental in getting the club to participate in the Ottawa
conference. “It was exciting and stimulating, and we all learned a ton!”

To help support their trip to Canada as well as attendance at the
upcoming Rocky Mountain Model United Nations (RMMUN) in Denver, the club
is holding a fundraiser at a local Colorado Springs restaurant.  The
cuisine will be an International feast of German, Italian, Australian,
and French foods, and wine pairings are available.  A guest lecturer,
Dr. Frances Pilch, of the United States Air Force Academy, will discuss
the role of the United Nations in today’s changing world.  The club will
also hold a silent auction that night, with the chance for attendees to
bid on timeless Van Briggle pottery, a hot air balloon ride, and more.

This event will take place at The Warehouse restaurant, 25 W. Cimarron,
Colorado Springs, on Monday, March 28, at 6 pm.  The cost of the evening
will be $40 and includes dinner, lecture, and the opportunity to bid at
a silent auction.  A cash bar is available.  There is limited seating,
so an RSVP is important.  Please contact modelun@uccs.edu or Dr.
Patricia Keilbach at 719-262-4043 for tickets and information.

The University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Model United Nations Club
was founded in January of 2003.  Students are participating in two Model
United Nations Conferences this year: the Canadian International Model
United Nations Conference, March 9-12 in Ottawa, Canada, and the Rocky
Mountain Model United Nations Conference in Denver, April 7-9.  These
are excellent opportunities for students to apply their knowledge of
international relations and diplomacy through representation of a
country on one of several committees.  Delegations from UCCS have shown
their merit; on last year’s team of 14, two were chosen “Best Delegate”
and 2 received “Honorable Mention” for their participation at the Rocky
Mountain Conference.  Please support these hard working students by
attending this event.


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