The program is entirely student run, with collegians from Yeshiva and Stern, Yeshiva’s women’s college, leading the committee sessions and meetings.
Each school was assigned a country to represent; every student came as a delegate representing that specific country.
For the high school participants, the program provides a powerful experience.
“Not only was this a good learning experience, but it helped in my public speaking abilities, and it allowed our voices to be heard about issues we feel strongly about,” said Eli Weitzner of the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto.
Weitzner, who represented Italy on the Economics and Finance Committee, boasted that his committee was “able to resolve the Asian crisis by restructuring and reforming monetary aid for the countries.”
Indeed, debate topics span a broad range of subjects.
For example, the group on Disarmament and International Security debated nuclear and chemical warfare. Those on the Environmental Program discussed hazardous wastes polluting the planet, the deficit of pure water and an urgent oil spill caused by an American ship. The World Health Organization deliberated about pharmaceutical companies; the Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination of Women discussed violence against women and women’s illiteracy.