Eric Ersequn is spending this weekend resolving a hostage crisis in the Ivory Coast.

The Hastings High School senior and other student delegates were given an hour yesterday to peacefully resolve the conflict as part of their participation in a model U.N. committee.

The 29th annual Westchester Model United Nations Conference began Friday and ends today at Hastings High School.

Students from nine area schools formed 12 model U.N. committees to debate and resolve global issues.

The student-run event gave teenagers a chance to discuss international law and learn how the U.N. operates.

"This is our time to watch TV and chill, but we're here at school. The conference makes it all worth it because we're learning in a fun environment," Ersequn said.

In addition to the delegates, more than 100 students participated in the conference as security guards, kitchen staff and office workers.

Younger students assisted the committees and researched topics such as India's independence from Great Britain.

Jonathan Granoff, president of the Global Security Institute, was the keynote speaker. He has been involved in a movement to ban nuclear weapons for the past 20 years.

However, Granoff reminded the 400 participating students that ozone depletion, terrorism, disease and poverty also are serious global threats.

"All of these problems are global in nature," Granoff said. "You are the future and you will be responsible in ways that my generation could never imagine."

Hastings High School freshman Charles Stam questioned Granoff's accuracy in describing the United Nations as the only place for international peacemaking.

Although many students expressed displeasure over Stam's comments, Granoff welcomed the rebuttal.

"I wouldn't want to go to a restaurant where there's only one meal," Granoff said. "When you see passion and caring from young people, it's one of the greatest wealths that you can ever experience. This is extremely inspiring for me."

Most students prepared for the conference two months in advance.

The delegates, representating different countries, came to a consensus on the issues. The open debate allowed students to interact with peers who are concerned about world affairs.

Rachel Nyitray, 16, attends the School of American Studies and believes there is a stereotype that teenagers are lazy and uninterested in global issues. The sophomore has been involved with the conference for two years and said she was happy to volunteer her weekend to work on tsunami relief efforts.

"I enjoy hearing other teenagers give their perspective on global issues. I think it's a great way to learn as well as have fun," she said.

While the students had fun, some of their re-enactments became frighteningly authentic.

In a committee meeting yesterday, a group of students who portrayed Ivory Coast militants burst through the classroom window and waved plastic swords to threaten the board. The L'Ajnin group, dressed in black, threatened to kill their 120 French hostages if the conflict was not resolved.

Ersequn then banged his gavel on the desk and called the meeting back to order.

"I'm the Dick Cheney of the Senate," he later joked.