Change the World Model United Nations was held on campus from Nov. 9 to Nov. 11. This year marked the second year in a row NYU Abu Dhabi has hosted CWMUN, featuring 300 delegates from five countries, most notably from the UAE and Italy. The opening ceremonies were held on the evening of Nov. 9 at the UAE National Archives, with the Italian ambassador to the UAE Liborio Stellino delivering the keynote address. A large portion of the Italian delegation was hosted on campus, while the committee hearings themselves took place in the Arts and Humanities Building throughout the day on Friday and Saturday. NYUAD students participated in committees comprised of university students, but high school committees also convened on campus at the same time. In addition to helping organize the event, NYUAD students served as chairs on most committees, both high school and university.

“It was wonderful to host so many passionate students from the UAE and abroad on our campus — the conference was a real success and we are incredibly proud of our student volunteers for giving up their weekend to help make it happen,” said James Pearce, Class of 2020 and President of the NYUAD Model UN Student Interest Group.

On Nov. 6 the NYUAD Arts Center hosted its annual Open Studios event. Open Studios, the Arts Center largest annual event, is an interdisciplinary event featuring more than 60 exhibitions, installations, screenings, performances, talks, demonstrations and works-in-progress. It included works from both students and faculty, with one of its most important purposes being to provide art students a platform for exhibiting their work to their peers and the general public.

“Open studios was a great way of showcasing the breadth of the projects undertaken by the students, as well as a reminder of the importance of the arts in [the modern] world,” said Diego Arias, Class of 2020, who exhibited his Interactive Media work at Open Studios.

The second International Police Sports Union’s World Police Games took place in Abu Dhabi from Nov. 3 to Nov. 10 across three venues, including NYUAD. Participants were seen on campus in a wide variety of formal uniforms, even hanging out, playing a game of FIFA on the gaming consoles in the Baraha. The competitors participated across Abu Dhabi in events including practical shooting, judo, jiu-jitsu and swimming. The event was organized by the UAE Police Sports Federations, which arranged for discounted airfare and accommodations for the delegations to make their attendance possible. More than 1,300 police from 53 countries were represented at the games.

Cyber Security Awareness Week held its Middle East and North Africa regional competition at NYUAD from Nov. 9 to Nov. 11. The largest student-run cyber security event in the world, CSAW is organized by NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering. During the event students from schools across the world debated cyber policy in the A6 residential college, while other visiting students participated in a series of technology and security themed competitions in the Campus Center. Some of these events included the Embedded Security Challenge, the Security Quiz and the Applied Research Competition, all within the increasingly relevant topic of cyber security. With many of the largest venues on campus already in use this weekend, participants in CSAW had their meals in the central courtyard, where tables and buffets were set up around the palm trees.