{"id":718,"date":"2019-07-17T18:18:43","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/nuclearnon-proliferationtalks\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:18:43","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:43","slug":"nuclearnon-proliferationtalks","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/nuclearnon-proliferationtalks\/","title":{"rendered":"WestConn students witness history at U.N. nuclear non-proliferation talks"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 As the world negotiated some of history\u2019s most salient issues at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation talks at the United Nations this month, nearly two dozen students from Western Connecticut State University were watching.<\/p>\n

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Twenty-two WestConn students along with Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Chris Kukk, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Dr. Damla Isik and Friar Michael Lasky of WestConn\u2019s Newman Center, were at the U.N. talks in New York City on May 4 and will return on May 13 for another day of negotiations. <\/p>\n

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The talks, which started May 3, include leaders from every world country. The key issues, Kukk said, are what to do about Iran\u2019s continued development of nuclear weapons systems, the idea of nuclear free zones, and international nuclear fuel stations. \u201cIt\u2019s like the Olympics of international diplomacy,\u201d Kukk said.<\/p>\n

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While the talks are closed to the public, WestConn students have been granted access as a non-governmental organization (NGO) through Lasky\u2019s membership with Franciscans International. More than half of the students participating were in Kukk\u2019s junior-level political science course, \u201cNuclear Non-Proliferation and Negotiation,\u201d last semester. Students in the course interacted via videoconferencing with 25 graduate students from the Geneva School of Diplomacy simulating non-proliferation treaty talks. The Geneva students were led by Dr. Yuri Narzkine, professor at the Geneva School of Diplomacy and a former Soviet nuclear weapons negotiator.<\/p>\n

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Kukk said this is an opportunity of a lifetime for his students, especially since the talks only take place once every five years. \u201cThis opportunity demonstrates, once again, that our university is not only an institution of higher education where we study global politics but a place where we are actively engaged in international relations. We don\u2019t close doors to opportunities here, we find ways to keep them open.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In addition to listening to the exchange of world leaders, students will meet privately with the spokesperson from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Archbishop of Nagasaki, and the ambassador from the Vatican to the U.N., Archbishop Migliore. <\/p>\n

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For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.<\/p>\n

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Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.
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