The Center of Latin American Studies is offering a new spring course where students will assume the responsibilities of the world’s oldest regional organization — the Organization of American States (OAS).

OAS consists of the 35 independent states in North and South America and serves somewhat as a United Nations for the Americas, discussing social, political and economic issues.

The Model Organization of American States (MOAS) Seminar will be open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Different professors will speak at each seminar to promote the course’s interdisciplinary approach.

Anita Herzfeld, a professor and undergraduate director and advisor for the department, said some students would be selected to travel to Washington, D.C. from March 29 to April 2 to participate in the national MOAS in Washington, D.C.

She encouraged students who were getting a degree in Spanish and had an interest in Latin America to pursue the department and consider the course.

“While they get the literature and the culture partly in the Spanish department, here they get to really know something about the politics and something about the traditions,” Herzfeld said.

Daphne Hiatt, a May 2010 graduate, got to experience the OAS at work in real life as an intern in Washington, D.C. Hiatt will complete her internship Friday.

Hiatt, who was in town over Thanksgiving break, said the three-month internship had flown by. She joined about 70 interns primarily from Latin America and the Caribbean.

She said the model program considered the same current events that the OAS covered each day. The current border dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua and issues concerning fossil fuels are topics she expected to receive attention in the future.

“It’s interesting getting to be a fly on the wall and to see how all the diplomatic and political issues are handled and dealt with,” Hiatt said.

— Edited by Dana Meredith