Griem's success story
Against some stiff competition, Trent's revived Model United Nations Society walked away with a first- and two second-place prizes in recent mock sessions staged at the University of Western Ontario.
      Twelve of the Trent society's 25 student members played ambassadors from different countries debating security council issues such as North Korea and nuclear armament, and the historical Cuban missile crisis. They also played international leaders at a mock meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and premiers' roles in a session of a first ministers conference of Canada. Judged for their understanding of the issues, speaking ability and lobbying talents, second-year student Travis Doyle won first place as the Belgium representative at NATO. (His prize is ever sweeter for the fact that until 10 p.m. the night before the competition he had prepared to be the Sri Lankan rep on an international court of justice session.) First-year student Matt Griem won second prize as British ambassador in the security council debate on Korea. Second-year politics and economics student Reuben Korte took second prize as Portugal representative at NATO discussing membership and Iraq. Trent's three prizes matched McGill University's team, known for its debating prowess in Canada, and exceeded the booty taken by other universities and high schools competing. "It was exciting to come away with so many prizes," said Griem.
      Griem revived Trent's Model UN Society when he arrived at Trent this year, after participating in his high school club for five years. Unlike debating, where winning your point is the goal, the model UN exercises hone negotiating, compromising and lobbying abilities. Trent members come from a variety of disciplines including political, comparative development and computer science studies, English and sociology.
      Political Studies Department secretary Shirley Lynch helped the club raise $2,500 from student groups and 15 academic departments. "We probably wouldn't have gone on this trip without her help," said Griem. The Trent team has been invited next year to compete at Harvard, Regina and McGill universities. Griem has his sights set on an international competition in Cairo, Egypt in two years.

Leahy lessons
In between tour gigs, musician-in-residence Donnell Leahy has recently made guest appearances in Trent classes. He demonstrated the difference between Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and his own Leahy-style fiddling techniques to Cultural Studies students in Ellen Waterman's world music class and discussed business decision-making and marketing with members of Peter Lapp's Administration Studies 105 class.
      Stay tuned for details of a fiddle summit planned for next fall.

A new plate
Trent-Marriott Food Services director Ken Toong said goodbye to Trent March 6 after almost nine years co-ordinating the university's kitchen, dining hall and catering services. He is pursuing other options with his employer Marriott Corporation.
      "I'm going to miss the people at Trent," said Toong. "It's a great place to work."
      For the past four years, Toong has organized an annual chefs culinary conference for institutional cooks and chef managers. The event draws more than 100 participants and high-profile speakers to Trent. "I hope to continue offering it wherever I am. Maybe I will hold it at Trent next year."