This guest post was written by W.E. Da’Cruz. Da’Cruz is a dual master’s degree candidate in the Public Administration, Diplomacy and International Relations program at Seton Hall University scheduled to graduate December 2014. Da’Cruz has more than six years of experience in the communications industry writing, interviewing, hosting, and developing content for media outlets including WABC-TV Channel 7, WBGO Jazz 88.3FM, New Jersey Newsroom, and Newark Television. Her recent op-ed addressed chemical weapons in Syria.
Professionals, graduate and undergraduate students representing 17 different countries, including Morocco, Ghana, United Kingdom, and Turkey, joined together to participate in a weeklong discussion with United Nations (UN) officials.
The Seton Hall University United Nations Intensive Summer Study Program, held from Monday, July 7, 2014 thru Friday, July 11, 2014 in New York City, provided participants the opportunity to engage with UN officials offline and ask probing questions on topics such as: political dynamics at the UN, peacekeeping, responsibility to protect (R2P), Security Council affairs, and public perception of the UN. Participants also attended an official UN Security Council meeting.
By the end, participants were able to compare and contrast the arguments offered by the speakers and readings, as well as determine their point of view about the UN. Some were left feeling optimistic about the capability of the UN to promote global governance, while others were left pessimistic about UN reform, in particular the Security Council and the veto power maintained by the Permanent 5 (United States, China, France, Russia, and United Kingdom).
Nevertheless, a large majority of participants left encouraged and excited about the various opportunities made available by the UN and its constituents to grow and build participants as global citizens. The following Twitter posts highlight various sessions throughout the program.
In NYC listening to Director of Policy at the United Nations Foundation, Minh-Thu Pham, discuss global governance! @SetonHall @lauriepine
— The Digital Diplomat ® (@wedacruz) July 7, 2014
Gaining great insights at the @SetonHall University School of Diplomacy United Nations Intensive Summer Study Program in NYC!
— The Digital Diplomat ® (@wedacruz) July 7, 2014
Amb. Mukerji, Rep. Mission of India to the UN, and Jenna Slotin, Deputy Director at UN Foundation, are examining political dynamics at UN!
— The Digital Diplomat ® (@wedacruz) July 7, 2014
Students/working professionals apart of @shuDiplomacy UN Program are speaking directly with high-profile officials! @lauriepine #education
— The Digital Diplomat ® (@wedacruz) July 7, 2014
@SetonHall UN Intensive: Head, Partnerships Team, UN Department of Peacekeeping, Oliver Ulich talks about independent military@shuDiplomacy
— The Digital Diplomat ® (@wedacruz) July 7, 2014
Students/working professionals apart of @shuDiplomacy UN Program are speaking directly with high-profile officials! @lauriepine #education
— The Digital Diplomat ® (@wedacruz) July 7, 2014
@SetonHall UN Intensive: Students gather for photo after session with Amb. Dunn on US priorities at UN @shuDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/YxZSOewuxC
— The Digital Diplomat ® (@wedacruz) July 9, 2014
@SetonHall UN Intensive: Counselor Steve Lieberman talks UN reform & Amb. Dunn on security. Fostering global leaders! @shuDiplomacy
— The Digital Diplomat ® (@wedacruz) July 9, 2014
@SetonHall UN Intensive: US-UN relationship remarks & debrief with UN Foundation reps. Mara & Chris. Talks on global politics @shuDiplomacy
— The Digital Diplomat ® (@wedacruz) July 9, 2014
@shuDiplomacy UN Intensive: Director Robert Kirkpatrick from #UN #Global Pulse discusses #mining "big data" for #development
— The Digital Diplomat ® (@wedacruz) July 9, 2014
@SetonHall UN Intensive: Advisor to UN Foundation, Eric Kashambuzi of Uganda, examines the role of G77 + China. @shuDiplomacy #politics #UN
— The Digital Diplomat ® (@wedacruz) July 10, 2014
@SetonHall UN Intensive: counter-terrorism expert discusses importance of capacity building to fight terrorism @shuDiplomacy
— The Digital Diplomat ® (@wedacruz) July 10, 2014
Heading to UN for another exciting day of immersion into global affairs @SetonHall @shuDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/7JN7YYYu3S
— Linda Karten (@LinKar10) July 10, 2014
Former @nytimes reporter @WarrenHoge speaks to @SetonHall @shuDiplomacy students on public perceptions of @UN pic.twitter.com/1iEpYabXAP
— Linda Karten (@LinKar10) July 11, 2014
Impressed by commitment to UN & knowledge on #MDGs & #post2015 of @shuDiplomacy students. Thanks for inviting me to your summer programme.
— Jorge Laguna-Celis (@jorgelaguna) July 8, 2014
this is impressive . i must commend the guest speakers and the students for their zeal towards tackling using the instruments of multilateral diplomacy. How i wish i am financially capable to register for this. would have been a life-changing episode .