Preston Williams Excels at Diplomacy-Debate Competition

2016 May 19

Preston Williams is among a group of 13 John Carroll University students who earned awards at Model Arab League (MAL) conferences this semester. Model Arab League (MAL) is a debate simulation based on the League of Arab States. It has been operated by the Washington, D.C.-based National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations since 1983 and now operates over 20 conferences in the U.S. each year. The John Carroll team represented the country of Egypt at both conferences. Professor Mona DeBaz is the group's advisor.

During the Ohio Valley Regional Model Arab League (OVMAL) conference, held at Miami University in February, 14 universities from across the region competed. Every student on the John Carroll team won an award at OVMAL, in addition to being recognized as the overall "Outstanding Delegation."

The national competition took place in April at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where the John Carroll group competed against 24 other teams. Two JCU students, Anas Haroun and Benjamin Gebhardt, won distinguished delegate awards.

These conferences offer the students a unique experience and the opportunity to learn the practice of diplomacy, negotiation, and communication.