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U.N. delegates meet despite alarm

By Aceila Taylor
The Daily Cougar

The University welcomed 150 ambassadors of the United Nations, each having goals not only of improving their respective country; but also graduating. They are not typical diplomats; they are high school students who apparently never stop learning, even under the threat of fire.

A false fire alarm didnit stop the Houston Area Model United Nations from holding its 28^th Annual Conference on Thursday.
According to the organizationis official program, HAMUN began in 1975, when a teacher, the late Andrea Flynn, decided to establish a program that will teach young people what itis like to "walk a mile in someone elseis shoes."

Since 1975, the conference has grown from 10 people to this yearis 850 students. Also included are the 25 members of the Secretariat, five of whom are students at UH.

"The goal of the UN is to get students to find problems and their solutions. We want them to think globally instead of just the United States," said Frank Troung, a freshman chemical engineering student who served as the Secretary Chairman of the International Labor Organization.

The opening ceremonies began with an informative video about the current Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.
"We chose Kofi Annan because he has tremendous influence in the UN," said Stephanie Smith, a corporate communications and political science senior who served as Secretary General. "He is admirable because he has managed to avoid war on several occasions."

The ceremonyis keynote speaker, Sissy Farenthold, also addressed the subject of war. Farenthold served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives and ran for Texas Governor in 1972. Farenthold expressed displeasure at the United States decision to go to war with or without the United Nationsi approval.

"We believe in the UN," said Farenthold. "Not that it is perfect but it remains t the only way to live in a perfect world, which in my opinion is fast moving out of our grasp."

Farenthold spoke of the National Security Policy and its "30 pages that tear the UN apart because its charter is never mentioned."

In closing her speech Farenthold admonished students to do research and be inquisitive.

"I encourage you to find out on your own. Things are not as simplistic as we are told."

Soon after her standing ovation ended the buzzing began and the white lights flashed.

The fire alarm sounded at 11:00 a. m. and for a moment, nations flooded the hallways. The UC Building Services confirmed that someone had pulled the lever accidentally. Relieved, the students went to lunch.

The two-day conference will end today with committees reconvening in the conference rooms of the UC. Closing ceremonies will take place in the Houston Room. The conference will adjourn at 4:30 p.m.
 

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