Students simulate European Union

Elizabethtown College was represented for the fourth time at the annual European Union (EU) Simulation held in Washington D.C.

The EU Simulation is a program similar to the United Nations simulations; the program allows college students to actively participate in a mock setting of the EU.

According to senior Matt Aiesi, "The European Union is a supra-national governing body of European member states; it combines political and economic integration working towards an eventual United States of Europe."

The union started with only six countries that created a trade agreement, and now it has expanded and developed into a 25-country corporation. According to Professor of Political Science Wayne Selcher it has common laws and currency; it allows the countries to cooperate with each other and not worry about the chance of war among themselves as been so prevalent in the past.

In the simulation each school is given a country to represent; Elizabethtown was given Greece. For the first two days they were separated into five or six political parties to discuss and come up with a resolution. This year the topic was based upon terrorism.

"All the schools were trying to reach an agreement on whether there should be a tribunal for terrorists within the European Union," said sophomore Nikolina Pazanin.

"Terrorism is obviously an international issue and the European Union is quickly becoming an international player so it is only right that they get involved," said senior Bill Graefe.

The first portion of the program divided the students into separate political parties and all discussed the topic in relation to their parties’ views. This discussion lasted two days and then the parties of students all joined together in a mock parliament and tried to develop a final resolution.

"The simulations was almost literally a walk-through of the processes of the EU for a couple of days to see what it’s like," commented Selcher.

The simulation was similar to the real EU, but a lot shorter.

"What we did at the simulation would have lasted about a year in the actual European Union, but we did all of it in three days," said senior Kara Wydra.

Twelve students represented Elizabethtown at the simulation and about 140 students all together and about 15 schools attended the simulation.

The students traveled to Wahington D.C. for the seminar on Thursday, Nov. 21, and it lasted until Sunday, Nov. 23.

Each student was assigned an actual role of a person from their country’s delegation.

Aeisi was honored by being voted president of the parliament and presided over the entire discussion with the elected vice president and the repertoire. He was elected unanimously by his party and got about 100 out of 140 votes.

The students who attended the simulation were part of a political science class, that studied the EU all semester and as part of their class went to the simulation.

"The course concentrated on studying the EU’s history and function, and their major issues," said Selcher. "The class later focused on the preparation on the Greek position in the EU and the terrorism issue to better debate the resolution."

Both Selcher and the students enjoyed the experience and enjoyed the application of their studies.

Selcher said, "It was an excellent opportunity to team teach and get to know students through an experimental learning course."

"It was a really good opportunity because it allows students to network with people and we learned a lot about the structure of the European Union and the institutions within it," said Pazanin.

Graefe commented that the participation in the simulation was "easier than learning out of the textbook."

And while they were visiting Washington D.C., they decided to test the nightlife of the city and actually met and chatted with MTV’s Tom Green. According to Aeisi, the students were out eating at an UNO bar and Green walked in and sat at the next table. He eventually sat with them, ordered them drinks and toasted to his new endeavor. He is currently attempting to go across the United States – from New York to Florida to San Francisco – without using any of his own money. He had started that morning.

"It didn't hit me that Tom Green was with us," said Wydra. "It was neat getting to know him and hopefully get to be on television."

Green and his friend Glenn Humplick hung out with the students for about three to four hours, and the event may air on MTV in February.