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A group of ten ISU students led by faculty advisor Noha Shawki of the Department of Politics and Government participated in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference in New York City April 22-26. The students attending the conference were Tori Frazier, Mariko Fukushima, Devin Gray, Jason Hochstatter, Bree Lewis-Ebling, Jakov Milatovic, Robert Nash, Jessica Tucker, James Wright, and Rich Wysocki.
This year, the ISU delegation represented Switzerland on seven different committees: The General Assembly Plenary; the General Assembly 1st Committee (Disarmament and International Security); the General Assembly 2nd Committee (Economic and Financial); the General Assembly 3rd Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural); the International Atomic Energy Agency; the United Nations Environment Programme; and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugee in the Near East.
Each student represented Switzerland on one of the committees and spent spring semester researching Switzerland’s position on three economic, social, humanitarian or security issues that were debated in his/her assigned committee at the Model UN Conference this year. These issues included a variety of global problems, such as the promotion of alternate sources of energy, combating the spread of illicit drugs, protecting water resources, and the external debt crisis. Students also researched Switzerland’s position on these issues and studied the rules of procedure of the United Nations so they could effectively argue Switzerland’s positions. The experience allowed students to gain public speaking experience and improve their research skills and their knowledge of the United Nations.
Most of the committee sessions were held at the New York Marriott Marquis, where the ISU delegation also stayed. The hotel is located in the heart of Manhattan, allowing students easy and quick access to New York City’s main attractions in their free time. Students had the opportunity to visit museums, parks and other attractions in New York. A few committee sessions as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the NMUN conference were held at the UN Headquarters, which was a wonderful opportunity to simulate committee proceedings in the same locations where “real” proceedings are held. Finally, the ISU delegation to the NMUN conference attended a mission briefing at the Swiss permanent mission to the UN to learn more about Switzerland’s policy priorities and about the initiatives it is currently spearheading at the UN.
The students who participated in the NMUN program had a wonderful experience. Robert Nash, a program participant, said that “The conference was intellectually engaging and required each delegate to be prepared. It was a fun and rigorous experience that I learned so much from. I would recommend it to anyone hoping to get the “real feel” of international relations.”
For more information about the program contact Noha Shawki at nohashawki@ilstu.edu.