Each week members of Nebraska Wesleyan University’s newest student organization, Model United Nations (MUN), meet to discuss and further understand some of the world’s biggest issues.
They talk about regional conflict, peacekeeping, human rights, and the environment in Sudan, China, Brazil and other member states that make up the United Nations.
What may sound like a typical political science class assignment is actually a hobby for the student organization’s 25 members who want more experience and expertise in understanding diplomacy and compromise.
“Wesleyan has a great global focus,” said Brenda Maldonado, a senior global studies and French major. “However I feel we oftentimes lack more exposure to international affairs beyond our specific field of study. MUN gives students the chance to expand their international comprehension on various issues while still applying the knowledge acquired in the classroom.”
This year Student Affairs Senate approved Nebraska Wesleyan’s Model United Nations chapter and allocated funding for the new group to compete at MUN conferences in St. Louis, Mo. and Denver, Colo.
To prepare, members ran practice simulations and learned various political tactics through the help of their experienced advisor Marty Nader. Nader, visiting assistant professor of political science, participated in MUN as an undergraduate student in Wisconsin.
“Model UN is a role-playing simulation of United Nations deliberations and negotiations involving real-world scenarios,” said Nader. “MUN takes issues and scenarios that students learn about in class and puts them in the driver’s seat where they can take charge and solve major problems. Beyond the hands-on learning experience, MUN can also boost students' personal confidence and public speaking abilities.”
At the conferences, each team represents a particular UN delegation. Students are responsible for learning about the issues facing the UN delegation they represent. They practice simulations and hold strategy simulations about their designated delegation. In St. Louis the chapter represented the country, Sudan.
“We have to go on the fly a lot because we’re stepping into a role we’re not familiar with,” said Miranda Baxter, a senior psychology and political science major from Grand Island. “Not a lot of organizations exist where we can network with other students about international issues.”
Their preparation paid off. The chapter earned awards for outstanding delegation and honorable mention at its first competition.
For many of the chapter’s members, the experiences gained this year are valuable for their career goals.
“I want to study international politics,” stated Baxter. “Model UN itself contributes to that in that I understand the insight of how countries communicate, the issues they face, and how they have to face those together to make progress.”
For Maldonado, it’s an opportunity to expand her international, political and economic knowledge while improving her communication skills.
“All of these aspects as well as learning more about this prominent think tank are beneficial to both the chapter members involved and to the entire campus.”