NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

12/14/2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -Nicolas Reves has found there is no substitute for talking face to face with people from other countries in helping him understand what is taking place in other parts of the world.

Reves, a senior liberal arts major in the Louisiana Scholars' College at Northwestern State University, recently attended an international conference in London sponsored by the Syracuse University London Center.

According to Reves, the event was designed to bring together international students to promote dialogue and encourage them to return home and set up similar events such as town hall discussions. He said the conference discussed the issues of international development in the developing world, global climate change and the problem of international security. Attendees were from 20 countries including the United States, several European countries, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Nigeria and Egypt.

"The caliber of students attending was outstanding," said Reves. "There were two Fulbright Scholars, a Pickering Fellow and a number of graduate students. It was an amazing experience. I consider myself well read as I read newspapers and blogs, but you can't beat talking to those who are from the countries that are in the news.

"I was able to talk to students from Iran and Egypt who gave me very unique perspectives. For example, in Egypt there has been a great deal of unrest and an extremist group called the Muslim Brotherhood has been gaining support. They are extremist. Many people don't agree with them, but they see supporting them as the only way to fight the government."

Speakers at the conference included prominent journalists from publications such as The Economist, representatives of groups fighting AIDS and a senior advisor to the British delegation to the United Nations.

Reves received assistance from the SGA Organizational Relief Fund, the Scholars' College and the NSU Foundation. He found out about the conference through his faculty advisor, Associate Professor of History Dr. Richard Jensen.

While in London, Reves was also able to do research for his senior thesis project at the British National Archives and the Imperial War Museum. Reves' project is on the revolt against the British in Iraq in 1920.

Reves hopes to attend graduate school after earning his degree at Northwestern. He hopes to study political science with an emphasis in international relations. His objective is to work in policy analysis for the U.S. State Department.

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