11 ESU Students Head to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. for 28th Eurosim

Posted by: admin on March 19, 2015, No Comments

Pictured from left to right starting with the back row are Jim Dimitriou, John Martocci, Frederick Ackerman, Alexander Parise, Liam Polinski, Ronald Hanaki, Dr. Eliasson, Kacey Jennings, Colleen Sullivan, Chantal Fulgencio, Nichole Burkhart, and Mathilde Tank-Munier.

Eleven students from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania will be shaking the hands of 177 students from 21 universities across Europe and the United States later this month.

These students will travel to Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. for the 28th International European Union Simulation (Eurosim) from March 26 to March 29.

Eurosim is a four-day exercise, where students apply acquired knowledge of European policy and laws, negotiating strategies, and policy position papers to negotiate real problems and issues, using tactics to compromise with other “countries” — represented by students from other universities — and have a sense of what it is like to be a real policy maker. The event is organized by the Transatlantic Consortium of European Union Studies and Simulations (TACEUSS), a non-profit corporation comprised of colleges and universities both in Europe and North America.

“The stimulation is designed to enhance the students’ understanding of law, the art of diplomacy and negotiations, and European Union integration, while sowing seeds of transatlantic understanding and friendship among participants through additional cultural activities,” Leif Johan Eliasson, Ph.D., associate professor of political science said.

The program includes 25 hours of meetings that run from early morning to late evening. Participants will attend committees that mirror their real EU counterparts and feature discussions, debates and negotiations.

“This experience is a great opportunity to work with a team,” Colleen Sullivan, a senior majoring in political science from Easton, Pa., said. “It’s a really interactive experience, not just with the class but with students all over the world.”

Students participating in this year’s Eurosim are Liam Polinski, a sophomore majoring in music and political science from Canadensis, Pa.; Ronald Hanaki, a senior majoring in mathematics and political science from East Stroudsburg Pa.; John Martocci, a junior majoring in political science from Roseto, Pa.; Jim Dimitriou a senior majoring in political science from Long Pond, Pa.; Alexander Parise, a sophomore majoring in political science from Saylorsburg, Pa.; Chantal Fulgencio, a junior majoring in political science from Stroudsburg, Pa.; Kacey Jennings, a senior majoring in political science from Stroudsburg, Pa.; Mathilde Tank-Munier, a senior majoring in political science from Nancy, France; Nichole Burkhart, a junior majoring in political science from Old Forge, Pa.; Frederick Ackerman, a senior majoring in political science from Nazareth, Pa.; and Colleen Sullivan.

Dr. Eliasson has led 98 students to eight previous European Union simulations in his time at ESU, and 25 students to four regional and national model EU simulations.