Mudd’s fourth floor electronic classroom played host to a campus first last Friday: College senior Mathilda McGee-Tubb represented Oberlin in an international videoconference.

The student summit focused on United Nation’s International Criminal Court and was sponsored by Americans for Informed Democracy. Participating students hailed not only from all over the U.S. but all over the world, with representatives from Nicaragua, Tanzania, Germany and Ecuador.

McGee-Tubb plans to found an Oberlin chapter of AIDemocracy, the sponsoring organization, before the end of spring semester.

 “[AID’s] mission is to engage students across the world in dialogue over global issues,” explained McGee-Tubb. “Specifically, on Western/Muslim world relations, issues of global health and environmental issues.”

McGee-Tubb first became involved with this non-partisan, non-profit, student led organization when Professor of Music Theory Brian Alegant nominated her for a Global Leaders Summit at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA, which she attended over fall break.

 “After attending the conference,” said McGee-Tubb, “which included keynote speakers, panel discussions and small group discussions with colleges across the country, I automatically became the campus coordinator for the Oberlin chapter.”

The organization puts together about eight videoconferences a year. McGee-Tubb wants Oberlin to continue the participation initiated last week. She explained that it’s much easier to arrange than it may seem:

“All I had to do was reserve the videoconference room, and they sent…everything,” she said. “Posters, chalk, clip boards, pens — even a stipend for food!”

In this particular videoconference, students discussed the ICC — which the U.S. has refused to ratify — and its implications for national sovereignty and global accountability. William Davis, appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan as the Director of the United Nations’ office in Washington, DC, was the guest participant.

Some schools saw the ICC as a great bringer of justice, as a student from Ecuador put it, “Where the Saddams, Pinochets and Pol Pots of the world will be tried.” Others saw it as a “Kafka-esque” legal system that would strip defendants of all rights.

Davis gave his opinion on why today’s students should be interested in the United Nations at this time:

 “There are demands placed on the UN because of our changing world, but the UN is also changing from a conference site to the second largest deployed military force in the world. But UN reform is not a one-night stand. It is an ongoing process.”

Davis asked the critical questions he felt should influence future discussion: Is the Secretary-General [of the UN] a Secretary or a General? Is he a kind of secular pope?

He closed with pleas for Americans to remain “actively, energetically engaged” in the UN, as “we are an indispensable nation.”

If Oberlin continues its participation in AIDemocracy forums, it will become eligible for a host of membership perks, including organization subsidized speakers and film screenings.

“This is an exciting, free opportunity to talk with students in other states and countries about really important issues,” said McGee-Tubb. “I feel that the best way to work through [issues] is [to] talk with people who are in a different position than you.

“It’s also an opportunity to learn about these issues in a non-confrontational way,” she continued. “You don’t have to be 100 percent in-the-know, you can just come and learn.”