Model United Nations (MUN) is an organization for students that is intended to replicate what is done in real United Nations conferences. Model UN works to support UN values and create sustainable development goals. At each conference, groups come from each school to participate in a conference surrounding a current political issue. These smaller groups hold workshops at their respective schools where they practice and prepare for the larger meetings that occur roughly every two months. Model UN encourages students who are interested in communications, negotiating and geopolitics to join.
Senior Fiona Beasley is in her second year of Model UN, having joined junior year after the former presidents encouraged her to.
“I joined Model UN because I was interested in debate, and I didn’t feel like our school had a debate team where I could learn a lot,” Beasley said. “I’m also interested in public policy, so I was trying to find a club that would fulfill both needs and allow me to learn more about global affairs and policy making.”
Beasley recently won an award for outstanding research out of 50 other delegates. The last conference took place on March 6 to 8 at the University of California Berkeley. Students represented the International Olympic Committee and discussed how to handle banning countries with war crimes.
“Russia got banned for their involvement in the war, and then in the past, other countries have gotten banned, such as South Africa, for their like enslavement and apartheid,” Beasley said. “And basically, we were looking at that issue and what to do going forward if a country has committed a war crime, how to stay politically neutral while still punishing countries for what they’ve done.”
A large part of Model UN is the public speaking that every participant has to be a part of. Beasley noted that while it can be challenging to give speeches on demand, the practice made her a better public speaker.
“Going into Model UN every week has made me really happy, and it has made me find a community different from my friends across grade levels,” Beasley said. “I think it’s really fun, and it has allowed me to learn how to speak in public.”
Sophomore Lucas Ribera was part of a committee focused on the exhumation of mass graves and the protection of cultural sovereignty. He explained how there were both positives and negatives to the conference.
“The most challenging part was researching and building a narrative that was true to our country’s [Croatia’s] beliefs and that was relevant to the topic,” Ribera said. “The most rewarding part was crafting and giving speeches on the spot, meeting new people from around the world, and debating foreign policy with other students.”
Ribera said that his experience with Model UN has left a good impact on his high school career.
“[Model UN] has impacted my high school career by making me a better researcher and improving my public speaking ability,” Ribera said.
As a senior, Beasley left those who are thinking of joining with a few words.
“Come try it for a day,” Beasley said. “Our club meetings are fun and laid back. And then conferences, don’t be afraid to go out there and speak; it’s everyone’s first time.”
