A Virginia Tech Student’s Experience at SCUSA 74 at the United States Military Academy (West Point)
By Mollie UpChurch
It was a privilege to have been asked to represent Virginia Tech at the 74th Annual Class of 1971 Student Conference on U.S. Affairs - SCUSA 74. This conference has been occurring since 1949 and this year, the class of 1971 graciously donated funds for this event. Since 1949, delegates both nationally and internationally have been invited to this conference to strengthen civilian-military relationships, develop leadership skills, and engage in meaningful discussions. Conference themes have ranged from Confronting Inequality: Wealth, Rights, and Power to The National Security Policy of the United States: The Sputnik Decade. This year's theme was “Innovation and the Future of American Foreign Policy.” There were 600 USMA cadets, 36 senior participants, and 200 undergraduate representatives from over 100 U.S. colleges and international institutions sent to attend this year's event. During this four-day conference, we attended an opening panel, engaged in roundtable discussions, attended delegate mixers, and listened to a keynote address from the honorable U.S. Special Presidential envoy for climate, John Kerry.
Upon registering for this event, delegates were asked to rank their top five topic choices. Following the “Innovation and the Future of American Foreign Policy” theme, these topics included:
1. Facing the Challenge of Climate Change
2. Global Authoritarian and Democratic Political Institutions Around the World
3. The Politics and Economics of Space
4. International Institutions and the Global Order
5. Tackling Human Distress (poverty, forced immigration) through Innovation
6. Ensuring National and Global Economic Growth through Innovation
7. The Threat and Promise of Innovative Technologies
8. The Role of Innovation and Institutions in US Military Affairs
9. Latin America (includes Central and South America)
10. Sub-Saharan Africa
11. Russia and Eurasia: Blunting Moscow’s Invasion
12. China and the Pacific
13. Europe: Domestic Challenges and External Aggression
14. Middle East: Framing a Coherent Policy Toward Key Players
15. The Arctic: Managing the Scramble for Influence
Once delegates were assigned their topic, we were sent articles to read and prepare for our discussions. My topic was table five: Tackling Human Distress (poverty, forced immigration) through Innovation. Each roundtable group was assigned a cadet point of contact (CPOC) who kindly volunteered to lead and help facilitate our groups discussions. Our CPOC was a senior named Evan Overholser. He was an incredible leader and an amazing representation of West Point.
Upon landing at Laguardia, a west point shuttle awaited to transport me and fellow delegates. Once I arrived at West Point we seamlessly checked-in and were given swag bags that included our name tags, a coffee tumbler, and other weekend essentials. We were directed to our CPOC and waited in the auditorium until our hosts for the weekend picked us up to take us to their barracks. Thoughtful USMA cadets had volunteered to host delegates in their barracks, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. My hosts, both accomplished athletes, shared intriguing insights into balancing life at West Point with their athletic pursuits.
After settling into the barracks, preparation for the conference initial events commenced. Meeting with our CPOC and roundtable group, we proceeded to the SCUSA orientation. Following a brief introduction, we made our way to the West Point Club for an introductory dinner with our roundtable groups. Given the significance of spending the majority of the week together, this dinner provided an opportunity for mutual introductions, allowing us to share details about one another and the universities we represented.
Post-introductory dinner, the grand ballroom hosted a panel discussion moderated by former US ambassador, retired lieutenant general, and the Robert F. McDermott Distinguished Chair, Douglas Lute. The panel featured insightful speakers, including Dr. Andrew Hoehn, Dr. Frank Luntz, Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, and David Sanger. Their profound backgrounds, perspectives, and intelligence laid a solid foundation, preparing us for our own discussions throughout the rest of the week.
After meeting my roundtable group, I was extremely eager to begin Thursday's discussions. Our first session began at 8:00 a.m after breakfast. I was immediately blown away by the passion and intelligence from the delegates in my group. Each roundtable had two co-chairs with exceptional expertise in the area. Our co-chairs were Maryann Gallagher and Peter Cloutier who had incredible backgrounds. Despite the broad nature of our topic, encompassing almost every other topic in the conference, my group wasted no time delving into our discussion. Initially uncertain about developing a policy for such a vast subject, we honed in on three recurring themes that emerged during our morning discussions: climate change, infrastructure and innovation and women, peace, and security (WPS).
Following lunch and our second roundtable discussion, we were treated to a spectacular demonstration by the parachute team. Descending from helicopters to land precisely on a marked field–a highlight of the week for me. This was followed by a weapon display and a captivating walking tour of West Point's breathtaking campus, especially during the fall season. Post-afternoon activities, delegates returned to the barracks to change and prepare for dinner and our first delegate mixer. The evening unfolded at the firstie club, where all SCUSA participants mingled and got to listen to music performed by a West Point band. Following the mixer, we retreated to the barracks to recharge for the upcoming day.
Given the productive conversations in my group on Thursday, Friday was approached with clear objectives. The overarching theme of our discussions centered on constructing a robust foundation for our policy. We divided into smaller groups to scrutinize distinct sectors of human distress. After intense discussions and the development of micro-policies in our small groups, we shared our findings with the entire roundtable. The valuable feedback and critiques from our co-chairs propelled us into crafting a comprehensive memorandum and slideshow for our presentation. The efficiency and intelligence exhibited from every single member in my group impressed me in many ways.
After a day immersed in policy formulation, we took roundtable group pictures with our co-chairs, followed by another incredible walking tour. We then departed back to the barracks to get ready for the keynote banquet. The honorable John Kerry gave an exceptional speech and Q&A on climate change. His words not only challenged my preconceptions but also instilled a sense of hope and the possibility of achievable change. Post-banquet, we reconvended for another memorable delegate mixer at the firstie club.
Saturday morning unfolded with breakfast alongside our roundtables, culminating in a final meeting to refine our presentation and memo. My group’s presentation went exceptionally well, and I felt grateful to have been a part of such an extraordinary team. I loved listening to the incredible policies presented by the other topic groups. As the fifteen presentations concluded, we said our goodbyes and boarded shuttles to our respective departing destinations. The meticulous planning and collective effort invested in various aspects of this conference left me immensely grateful to have been a part of something truly special.