At the March 2-6, 2006 Model African Union simulation, held at Howard University in Washington, the Georgia Southern University teams represented the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania.  The teams performed extremely well and several delegates were selected by their peers as chairs.  Cory Moss was named Chair of the Heads of State and the Peace and Security Committee.  Virgil Watkins was selected to chair the Technical Committee on Economic Matters.  Our delegates were Shamira Bailey, Sean Bethune, Cheryl Hill, Renard Kerr, Amery Madden, Atiya Mitchell,  Cory Moss,  Ashlee Partlow,  Brandee Thomas, Benita Turner, Virgil Watkins, and Katrina Wyche. 

Dr. Alfred Young of the History Department and Dr. Saba Jallow served as faculty advisors. The twelve delegates represent various majors across the campus.   Our delegates joined hundreds of students from across the United States. The delegates were given the opportunity to study the role, organization, and performance of the AU through simulation enhanced by briefings at several African Embassies in Washington, D.C. 

"I feel as though this opportunity that I received in this class was once in a lifetime experience.  I was presented with the chance to take a trip to Washington, D.C. fully funded by the Center for Africana Studies and Georgia Southern University.  Although this was an excellent opportunity it also was a tremendous task.  Along with a trip to Washington came many hours of research and practice.Our class was led by Dr. Jallow who instructed us in the diplomatic procedures and  practices of the Model AU.  We learned the correct protocol of writing AU resolutions.  Once he prepared us for the trip the class was on the road or shall I say in the air to Washington, D.C. The trip was full of numerous enriching experiences ranging from dining with authentic Africana cuisine to meeting with the African ambassadors. We (the class) represented both Georgia Southern University and the Center well."
- by Ashlee M. Partlow

"The African Union simulation in Washington, D.C. gave me the opportunity to interact with peers of mine from across the nation in a diplomatic environment.  The actual sessions provided intense debate over relevant topics that impact Africa directly.  What amazes me about the African Union simulation is that the issues discussed are issues that the countries actually  congregate together to attempt to solve.  The Center for Africana Studies has had the most profound impact on my life.  Although, I am a philosophy major the Africana  Studies minor classes are among my favorite classess.  If Georgia Southern University made an Africana Studies Major, the diversity of the student body would flourish beyond anything imaginable.Georgia Southern University should make an effort to expand the Africana Studies minor into a major and the Center needs more professors, available classes, and funding since GSU boasts of such a diverse campus."
- by Benita Turner

"I believe that the Center for Africana Studies is very important to Georgia Southern University.  Being an African American student, I feel that it is imperative that we as black people should know where our ancestors came from.  I feel that the Center for Africana Studies does a very good job of imparting knowledge about Africa.  The classes that I took endowed me with information that I had never known before.  Additionally,  they also gave me a new sense of pride and awareness about my ancestors.  They have also informed me about the crisis in places such as Dafur."
- by Curtis Chambliss