Model UN

Advisor: Philip Konecny

Model United Nations is an authentic simulation of the U.N. General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. Simulating international organizations began even before the birth of the United Nations, when students held a series of Model League of Nations in the 1920s. The Model U.N. Program is a successor to a student-directed simulation of what preceded the U.N. itself. It promotes student and teacher interest in international relations and related subjects, increases the capacity for students to engage in problem solving, teaches aspects of conflict resolution, research skills, and communication skills, and creates the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

A regular Model UN meeting begins with delegation notes where the students bring any “new business” to the group. The students then discuss their roles in the delegation,…hold mock debates, votes, referendums, etc. The students will debate the validity/veracity of their position on a national/international position from their country’s perspective. The students spend a lot of time researching their country and recording data that will help them assume the role of a representative for the chosen country when they were in a vote/debate/referendum situation. The Model UN conference is two days –a Friday and Saturday in March- where the students competed with over 70 different schools from across the state in actual UN parameters.