College students from across California hold Model Arab League meeting at SFSU 

WHAT:

As the world community wrestles with the question of stability in post-war Iraq, more than 200 college students from across California take on the role of diplomats from Arab countries and debate the questions of a changing Middle East during the 2003 Model Arab League meeting at San Francisco State University this weekend.

WHEN and WHERE:

Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-5 p.m. on the first floor of the Humanities Building and Sunday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Knuth Hall of the Creative Arts Building. (See campus map).

DETAILS:

· Modeled after the United Nations, the Model Arab League is holding its 21st annual West Coast gathering at SFSU this weekend.

· Students are divided into delegations representing the 22 members that make up the Arab League, ranging from Jordan to Libya and one group represents Iraq.

· Delegates have spent the last semester learning about the cultural, political and economics issues of their respective countries.

· The students --- meeting in councils focused on defense, environmental affairs, the interior, social affairs and Palestinian affairs -- will spend all-day Saturday debating such questions as stability in a post-war Iraq, combating terrorist situations and non-violent resistance in Palestine.

The gathering concludes Sunday, April 13 with a summit session of all the participants at 9 a.m. in Knuth Hall of the Creative Arts Building.

CONTACT:

For more information about the gathering, call program coordinator Elijah Owen at (415) 577-9973. SFSU faculty advisor to the Model Arab League is Dwight Simpson, professor of international relations at SFSU, who is available at (510) 527-5306.