On the opening day of the 2024 Washington Model Organization of American States conference, Luis Almagro, the Secretary-General of the real Organization of American States, addressed the attendees. For Noah Trepanier, a history major and member of the BYU MOAS team, one thing Almagro said really stood out: that the Western Hemisphere has largely been spared from the conflicts that have embroiled Europe, Africa, and Asia during the 20th century, due in part to international cooperation in the region. Trepanier observes, “That's a testament to the hard work and spirit of internationalism and collaboration that generations of diplomats from the Americas have had over the years, and it’s a rich tradition I felt privileged to tap in to.”
Thought-provoking, educational moments and insights like this characterize the experiences that the BYU MOAS team had at this year’s conference, where a unique diplomatic simulation system helped students learn and grow in a variety of ways.
From BYU to Washington, DC
The Model Organization of American States provides students with an opportunity to participate in a simulated OAS conference. Team members have the chance to learn and practice diplomatic skills in a model based on the real Organization of American States, which was founded in 1948 and promotes cooperation between member states.
This is BYU’s sixth year sending a team to participate in the Washington, DC conference. For students, this involves taking a class winter semester where they learn about diplomacy and research the country they’ve been assigned. Students also prepare a resolution they hope to get passed during the conference (one from BYU’s team advocated in favor of increased internet access for marginalized groups). Then, at the week-long conference in DC, they represent that country in the proceedings: joining discussions, negotiating with other delegations, and working to get resolutions passed.
This year, the ten-person BYU team, led by professor Jeff Shumway (also faculty coordinator of the Latin American Studies program), was assigned to represent Argentina. The conference was held 8–12 April 2024 at the OAS building and at Trinity University in Washington, DC; teams from twenty-four other universities participated, including a few from Latin American countries.
For Jakob Ezell, a junior double-majoring in Latin American Studies and Spanish, participating in the team fit in perfectly with his interests and studies, as he intends to attend medical school and is interested in serving marginalized peoples across the Western Hemisphere. “[My] study of health policy and my future in medicine led me to the Washington Model Organization of American States, whose motto is ‘More Rights for More People,’” he says. “Professor Shumway informed me that BYU would be representing Argentina, and having served my mission in Buenos Aires, I was ecstatic to bring many of my interests together in this experience in Washington D.C.” Ezell was able to participate this year as Head Delegate for the BYU team and had the honor of being elected as vice-president of the General Committee for next year’s conference.
While there, the students enjoyed seeing Washington, DC and meeting with diplomats, including Minister Adrián Nador, the chargé d'affaires of Argentina's diplomatic mission to the US, and Ambassador Guillermo Daniel Raimondi, Argentina's Representative to the OAS. Trepanier says, “Both men and their staffs were very generous with their time to us and provided valuable insight as we prepared for the conference.”
For Camila Rivera, a Latin American Studies major, the location of the conference was one of the most interesting aspects of it. “The coolest experience there was to be in the real OAS building as diplomatic talks were happening right above us,” she says. “Ecuador had raided the Mexican Embassy in Ecuador and Colombia was writing a resolution to present to the [OAS] Permanent Council; Argentina was kind of mediating the whole thing, and we were right below it. The energy in the building was indescribable; it was so powerful.”
A Unique Model
MOAS is not the only diplomatic simulation program that BYU gets involved with, but it differs from organizations like Model United Nations in that it takes a less competitive form; that’s why the big meeting in Washington, DC is referred to as a conference, not a competition. There are no prizes given to delegates or delegations; they are simply there to present their resolutions, debate other delegations’ resolutions, and in the process engage with the spirit of diplomacy.
For Rivera, this unique model gave her pause at first. “I am a very competitive person,” she says, “and competition drives me to put in effort, but MOAS does not have a competitive aspect at all. At first, I thought this would greatly demotivate me from wanting to do well.” Fortunately, she found that not to be the case: “I was still motivated to do well and participate because of the love that grew for the activity and my team. The team was also amazing; I think we had a fabulous group that truly cared for the nature of the Model and we were all excited to be a part of something so important in the real world.”
And the nature of diplomatic simulations gave her the chance to approach the conference in a new way. She explains, “I did debate all of high school, and while I am very grateful for the skills it taught me, it did teach me that there is always a winning side and a losing side; there is no in-between. MOAS taught me about negotiation, diplomatic language, and professionalism. MOAS teaches you to be authentic (as you are firm in the interests of the nation you are representing) and it teaches you to be considerate of the interests of others.”
An Incredible Learning Experience
Being on the BYU MOAS team gave the participants a new perspective on the world. “MOAS helped me see the world through a different lens than I was used to,” Trepanier says, both in learning about Argentina and learning from other delegations at the conference.
Ezell agrees: “I gained a profound understanding of Argentine history and political administration, along with experience in addressing real-world issues and advocating for humanitarian causes.”
They also learned unique and important skills that they may not have gained otherwise. Says Ezell, “During my Model OAS experience, I explored diplomatic policy, debate processes, public speaking, and cultural humility. Researching current events became natural, enhancing my ability to contribute to discussions, including crisis scenarios occurring in Haiti in our case with the general committee. Partnering on draft resolutions emphasized teamwork and cooperation. I learned the importance of collaboration and receptiveness to growth opportunities.”
Trepanier agrees, “I gained a lot of soft skills like being able to negotiate, pitching what my partner and I had written to other student delegates, and learning how to build alliances and voting blocs. I couldn't have learned these skills in the classroom, and they'll help me be a more competitive applicant to grad schools and jobs.”
The others agree that the skills they’ve learned and the experiences they’ve had will shape their future paths. Rivera, who hopes to become an immigration lawyer, says that “this activity helped me understand what I want to do in the future for others and clarified my career path.”
And Ezell states, “Model OAS broadened my intellectual horizons and revealed my strengths in small group interactions, negotiation, and networking. My interest in addressing medical policy, humanitarian needs, and promoting medical care deepened through this experience.”
Joining the MOAS Team
The team is always excited to welcome new recruits who are interested in this unique experience. Ezell says, “If you are interested in world politics, culture, international affairs or anything in-between, then MOAS may be the perfect match for you.”
Though many participants are Latin American Studies majors, it’s not a requirement. History major Trepanier says, “The team is most geared towards Latin American Studies majors, but that doesn't mean only those students can join. I'm not a Latin American Studies major. If you have a passion for Latin American history, culture, politics, and people, I'd reach out to the professors and just tell them you're interested.”
To learn more about the Washington MOAS conference, click here. And if you want to learn more about joining BYU’s team, reach out to Jeff Shumway.