Model United Nations - The following report was submitted by Megan Colnar (’08) who served as the Secretary General for this year’s Mid-South Model United Nations Conference:

This year′s Midsouth Model United Nations Conference XXVIII was one of the most successful yet.  With over 150 students from Tennessee and Arkansas, the level of debate and competition were outstanding. MSMUN XXVIII included a secretariat of over 15 Rhodes students whose majors range from International Studies to Theatre to Physics! The most successful accomplishment of this year′s conference was the transformation of the International Press Corps into a true simulative experience and the increased resources available to delegates on the Press Corps. The revenue from the conference will help next year′s team travel.  We hope this year′s successes will only continue on in the future.

Modus Vivendi – The following report was submitted by Laura Sellers (’08) who served as one of the co-editors for Modus Vivendi this year:

The Sigma Iota Rho journal, Modus Vivendi, had a banner year during the 2007-08 academic year.  Over fifteen papers were submitted for consideration in this edition.  They were reviewed by co-editors Julie Pasch (′08) and Laura Sellers (′08).  Aiding them in this process was a wonderful group of associate editors made up of Valisa Berber-Thayer (′09), Megan Colnar (′08), Katie Frink (′08), Heather Houser (′09), Brent Hubbard (′09), and Alex Mahoney (′08).  Their hard work and dedication were essential to the success of this publication.  Special thanks to Brenda Somes and the I.S. work-study students for their organizational assistance as well as Brenda′s support and institutional knowledge. 

The papers included in this year′s journal are:

1.)    Elizabeth Saba′s (′09), "The Difficulties of Muslim Integration in Europe"

2.)    Alex Mahoney′s (′08) analysis of the United States-China trade in textiles

3.)    Emily Donelson′s (′08) essay on “Forced Labor in the Modern Global Economy,"

4.)    Laura Sellers′ (′08) exploration of Ghanaian and Kenyan trade with the United Kingdom.  

These papers represent not only the breadth, but also the depth of study that has taken place inside and outside the IS Department this year.   Copies of this year′s Modus were distributed during the annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium held on the last day of classes. 

Ryne Marksteiner (’09) was selected by the department to attend the 2008 Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference (NAFAC) in Annapolis, Maryland in April.  Ryne submitted the following report upon returning from the Conference:

NAFAC was a fantastic opportunity not only to apply and share my studies of Latin America, but also to learn from similarly motivated students and professionals from across the country and the world.  The topic of this year’s conference was “Latin America and the Caribbean in the 21st Century” and the impressive list of guest lecturers included Dr. Kurk Weyland, Robert Zoellick, Admiral James Stavridis, and Senator Chris Dodd.  My particular roundtable discussed Populism in Latin America and consisted of delegates from as far as Germany and professors from Argentina and Brazil.  Our discussion was enlivened by a healthy diversity of points of view and directed by the group’s breadth and depth of knowledge.  The Naval Academy Midshipmen not only ran the conference and performed a full formal parade for the delegates, but were also actively engaged in roundtable discussions and lectures.  The I.S. Department’s continued commitment to this conference provides a superbly beneficial experience to Rhodes students.

The following students were selected for the 2008 Mertie W. Buckman International Internship Program.  More details about their experiences will come in the next I.S. newsletter.

• Valisa Berber-Thayer - Spain
• Courtney Eskew – Cameroon
• Kait Fleck- Cameroon
• Heather George – Ghana
• Heather Houser – Germany
• Ryne Marksteiner – Costa Rica
• Anson Purdy – Costa Rica