Ten Elizabethtown College students enrolled in Professor of International Studies, Professor of Political Science & Director of the Honors Program Oya Dursun-Özkanca’s European Union (EU) Simulation course recently represented the College at the annual Mid-Atlantic European Union Simulation (MEUS) from Nov. 14 to 16.
The Blue Jays joined more than 60 students from across the region to participate in the learning program that engages students in political briefings and simulations of the European Union. This year, the Etown delegation represented the Republics of Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Cyprus at the simulation.
“This hands-on experience enabled the students to apply their theoretical knowledge of the EU to a model EU, observing firsthand how the EU decision-making procedures unfolded in practice,” Dursun-Özkanca said. “Representing policymakers from various EU Member States, students excelled in advocating for their assigned countries’ national interests, while skillfully amending the legislative proposal they received from the European Commission.”
Topics of debate at the simulation included the Reconstruction of Ukraine and Energy Security. The Etown delegation traveled to the Embassy of Poland in Washington, D.C., to ask questions about their topics to Polish diplomats before returning to the simulation.
Political Science Major Silje Lorentzen ’25 and Computer Science major Teddy Bazyar ’27 served in leadership positions throughout the simulation and chaired their respective Councils of Ministers. Bazyar played the role of the Hungarian minister of energy, and Lorentzen played the role of the Hungarian minister of finance and the president of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council.
“This experience helped me understand other people’s perspectives and realize how cultures, environments, and many other factors come into play,” Bazyar said. “This experience also helped me with public speaking and making sure my voice is heard.”
The group drew on their experience in Dursun-Özkanca’s European Union Simulation course, where they learned about the EU’s history and its evolution.
