Student leaders explore problems
Fifty-five students from North, Central and South America are exchanging ideas and information to reach an understanding of the problems facing the Western Hemisphere.
By Sarah McNamara
Staff Reporter

Political instability in Venezuela prompted advisors to reconsider the destination of the third annual American Airlines Leadership for the Americas Program which began Sunday and will end Friday.

Tracy Williams, education abroad coordinator, said a decision was made six months ago to move the conference back to Fort Worth, where last year’s conference was held.

“It was the only place they could pull together the conference in such a short time,” Williams said.

The international alliance, fully funded by American Airlines, brings together 11 universities from 11 countries in North, Central and South America to discuss problems and solutions facing the Western Hemisphere, Williams said.

“The goal all along was to bring together student leaders to explore problems that are common and look for solutions in their own countries as they become professional leaders,” Williams said.

Since the conference normally rotates among participating countries and adopts the dominant language, most of the initial planning centered around the participants conducting the conference in Spanish, Venezuela’s primary language, said Rebecka Guzman, coordinator of the Leadership for the Americas Program.

While a majority of the program discussions will be in Spanish, several sessions will have English components, including a panel set to discuss the world one year after Sept. 11, Guzman said.

“Students wanted a forum to respond to the U.S. position on war and to discuss why we do things the way we do,” Guzman said.

Participating students, called Leadership Fellows, chose this year’s theme, From Poverty Toward Development in the Americas and have been discussing four sub-topics concerning common problems within each nation: human rights, health, education and work and minorities.

Williams said five students are selected from each country and assigned to research one of the four sub-topics in preparation for the conference. Throughout the week each country has been addressing their perspective on every topic and participants have the opportunity to interact with each other and an expert on the given topic.

“The students are a unique and wonderful group that came prepared and ready to work,” Guzman said. “We’ve seen 11 really prepared presentations given by each country and as a coordinator, that’s what makes the week what it is.”

The sessions have been held at the Dee J. Kelley Alumni & Visitors Center.