UM-Dearborn hosts United Nations Day

(Photo credit: Troy A. Blevins / MJ)

By SAMANTHA BELCHER, Student Life Editor

The University of Michigan-Dearborn’s College of Arts, Science, and Letters (CASL) hosted the United Nations Day Celebration on Thursday, October 24. The event was held on the 67th annual United Nations Day.

“The United Nations has an important role to play in terms of dialogue to discuss world problems and issues,” said Jerold Hale, Dean of CASL.

During the event, two students were presented with the Sam Zehara Scholarship. These students were the first to receive the scholarship, which is in honor of Senator George J. Mitchell. In order to obtain the award, students had to be interested in a career in public service and diplomacy.

Preference for the scholarship went to students who were majoring, or intended to major, in the Public Communication and Cultural Studies program, International Studies, Political Science-International Relations and/or Political Science- Comparative Politics. Preference also went to students living in Dearborn, Michigan.

Additionally, UM-D honored the Consular Corps of Michigan, an organization of professional and honorary diplomats based in Michigan. Dean Hale said this was an opportunity for students to discover that there are consulates in the Metropolitan area.

“(United Nations Day) is a way to engage the Metropolitan community in learning about what we’re doing as a campus internationally,” said Susan Gedert, Special Projects Coordinator for CASL.

Gedert said the event was a way to bring in international students and community into one evening. She added that it’s vital for students to learn about the United Nations and what it represents.

“It’s important to engage students into learning about different countries,” Gedert said.

Chancellor Daniel Little also spoke at the event. Dean Hale said students got a sense of dangers in the world but also kept a historical context in improvements around the world with the help of the United Nations.

“Anything that celebrates dialogue between countries is a good thing,” Dean Hale added.

Gedert said she hopes students received an overall appreciation of the United Nations and of what UM-D is doing on an international level.

According to the United Nations, United Nations Day is celebrated each year to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the organization in 1945. The United Nations was founded to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, and promote social progress, better living standards and human rights.