TAMIU Students Compete at ESMOAS Conference

Recently, several Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Political Science Association and Pi Sigma Alpha students competed in the Eugene Scassa Mock Organization of American States (ESMOAS) Conference, held in San Marcos, TX.

During the annual Conference, each team networked, role-played and competed in mock trials. This year, two student-led teams competed as country delegations to the Mock Organization of American States (OAS) representing Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago. A third team competed a two-person legal team arguing a human rights case before the Moot Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Before the Conference, teams are randomly assigned a country. Team members present resolutions on pre-determined topics in various committees, all representing the interests of their assigned country.

Head delegates attend as heads of state of each country.  The teams and individuals are judged by their written work, creativity, public speaking and debate ability, grasp of parliamentary rules and procedures and holding their country's agenda and real-life political position.

Additionally, students compete in an Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) moot court competition. Participants are given a hypothetical case written by experts in the field and adapted from a real-life case or human rights issue. Teams are judged on their written cases and through a round of oral arguments. 

The Cuba team consisted of Emily Walker as head of state, Nathan Treviño, Juan Barrera, and Consuelo Guzman. Walker won the Distinguished Written Resolution award for the General Committee.  This is the second year in a row she has won an award at the competition.

The Trinidad and Tobago team included Noelia Angeles as head of state, Cesia Pérez and Juan Vidal.

The IACHR Moot Court competitors were Ramses Betancourt and Jesús Padilla.

History and Political Thought graduate student, Joshua Llamas, served as a judge for the Mock OAS competition.

The students were accompanied by the organization’s faculty advisors Drs. James A. Norris and Lola O. Norris.  Dr. James Norris also serves as a member of the ESMOAS Faculty Steering Committee.

The ESMOAS Conference incorporates several facets to be the nation's only hybrid model conference.  The longest-running portion, the Collegiate Summit of the Americas, has been held since 1995.

For more information, contact Dr. Norris at 956.326.2607, email jnorris@tamiu.eduor visit offices in Cowart Hall, room 313. 

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