Mock African Union focuses on major issues of African countries
Elise Maloney
Issue date: 9/15/09 Section: News
For three years, Augusta State University has been a part of the Mock African Union.
"The Mock African Union gets students involved with thinking about Africa and thinking about the dynamics and the relationships between countries," said Angela Bratton, assistant professor of anthropology. "They can pretend like they are members of these different countries and each school has a group that they represent."
Bratton is the university's faculty representative on the African council. Because of her position on the council, she was brought onboard to participate in the process at Augusta State.
According to Bratton, there is a real African union that is a coalition of around 57 African countries. The African Union is a way for Africans to come together and talk about needs in their region of the world. The intention this year is for the students to attend the conference as delegates. In order to so, students have to do research on their assigned countries and learn as much as possible about them.
Augustine Hammond, an assistant professor of political science who is a native of Africa, believes that being involved with the Mock African Union is good for students.
"Students get to know about Africa and African politics," he said. One of the major requirements is that every participant knows 'Robert's Rule of Order'."
Although students may not be familiar with 'Robert's Rule of Order,' Hammond assures students that he will cover all the basics once they are registered. According to Hammond, the Mock African Union is perfect for students who are interested in politics or political science. He does stress, however, that it is important for students to be very familiar with the country they are representing.
"Of course it looks good on resume too," Hammond said.
For the past two years, the conference, which takes place later this fall, has hosted, according to Hammond, many influential speakers from Africa. The speakers have exchanged e-mail addresses with students who are interested in doing work in Africa. Also, according to Bratton, there is an African party, complete with African dance and African music.
"The Mock African Union gets students involved with thinking about Africa and thinking about the dynamics and the relationships between countries," said Angela Bratton, assistant professor of anthropology. "They can pretend like they are members of these different countries and each school has a group that they represent."
Bratton is the university's faculty representative on the African council. Because of her position on the council, she was brought onboard to participate in the process at Augusta State.
According to Bratton, there is a real African union that is a coalition of around 57 African countries. The African Union is a way for Africans to come together and talk about needs in their region of the world. The intention this year is for the students to attend the conference as delegates. In order to so, students have to do research on their assigned countries and learn as much as possible about them.
Augustine Hammond, an assistant professor of political science who is a native of Africa, believes that being involved with the Mock African Union is good for students.
"Students get to know about Africa and African politics," he said. One of the major requirements is that every participant knows 'Robert's Rule of Order'."
Although students may not be familiar with 'Robert's Rule of Order,' Hammond assures students that he will cover all the basics once they are registered. According to Hammond, the Mock African Union is perfect for students who are interested in politics or political science. He does stress, however, that it is important for students to be very familiar with the country they are representing.
"Of course it looks good on resume too," Hammond said.
For the past two years, the conference, which takes place later this fall, has hosted, according to Hammond, many influential speakers from Africa. The speakers have exchanged e-mail addresses with students who are interested in doing work in Africa. Also, according to Bratton, there is an African party, complete with African dance and African music.
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