Center for Australian & New Zealand Studies

CANZ was visited by two groups of Australian undergrads.  On February 5 students here for the Model UN conference at Harvard visited.  On January 30 Australian interns from Capitol Hill visited CANZ.

Model UN Visitors

Model UN students from Australia visited CANZ on February 5, 2009.  They are in the US to compete in the Model UN competition being held at Harvard University.  Before going to Harvard, however, they are taking some time to travel around the US and get to know Americans.  The 17 students visited CANZ where they met CANZ director Alan Tidwell and NZ Fulbright Visiting Scholar Danny Keenan.  The students asked great questions about American perceptions of Australia, indigenous rights in the US, and the prospects for the new Obama administration.  We wish the Australians the best of luck for their coming debate.

The Australians will play the role of Malaysia in the model UN session.  While in Washington they visited the Malaysian Embassy for some background and advice.  The model UN is sponsored by the U.N. Youth Association.  This year the UNYA sent Aussie undergrads from every state and one territory.  The ACT did not send anyone this year...!

Australian Interns Stop By

Australian students participating in the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program (UCWIP) visited CANZ on January 30, 2009.  Roughly a dozen Australian undergraduates, from universities around Australia, participate annually in the UCWIP.  CANZ is pleased to work with Eric Federing, the founder of the UCWIP, in welcoming the students to Washington.

This year the students included:

In the office of Rep. Mike Castle of Delaware:  Alexander Maschmedt (University of Western Australia)

In the office of Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina/House Majority Whip:  James Deane (Univ. of Wollongong)

In the office of Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut:  Jehane Sharah (University of Canberra)

In the office of Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida:  Victoria Foxton (University of Queensland)

In the office of Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida:  Angus O'Brien (University of Queensland)

In the office of Rep. Jerold Nadler of New York:  Bridget Mangan (Deakin University)

In the office of Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida:  Alexander Butterworth (Univ. of Western Australia)

In the office of Rep. Loretta Sanchez of California:  John Fowler (University of Queensland)

In the office of Rep. John Tierney of Massachusetts:  Lily Frencham (University of Wollongong)

In the office of Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho:  Nicholas Tam (Melbourne University)

In the office of Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut:  Rachael Holt (University of Queensland)

In the office of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe:  Mevelyn Ong (Melbourne University)