EMU Leads at Midwest Model United Nations Conference
Nineteen EMU political science and international affairs students participated in the 49th Annual Midwest Model United Nations Conference in St. Louis, February 18 – 21. The EMU team represented Belgium, Tunisia and Nigeria in simulated sessions of the General Assembly (GA), Security Council, First through Fourth Committees of the GA, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP), and the UN Environmental Program. They engaged with students from 59 other universities in multilateral diplomacy to draft resolutions on critical global problems, including Russia’s invasion of Georgia, missile defense, preventing corruption, strengthening the rights of children, protecting biodiversity, and creating conditions for the resumption of Israeli/Palestinian peace negotiations.
Representing Belgium were members of the EMU UNA Student Alliance: Cindil Redick, Brandon Koppin, Jelani McGadney, Angie Hoxie, Adam Dreher, and Eric Tenza. Andrew Stefan, also a member of the club, represented Nigeria on the CEIRPP. Students enrolled in PLSC 343, “Model United Nations,” represented Nigeria and Tunisia. In the Nigerian delegation were Justin Beaudrie, Katie Collins, Brian Sanders, Phoebe Conybeare, and Jillian Berndt. Representing Tunisia were Muayad Mahmoud, Gerald Paulovich, Michael Burton, Andrew Hinkle, Azra Masinovic, Stephen Haynes, and Tamara Grit.
As in past MMUN conferences, members of the EMU team took a leadership role in building consensus and drafting resolutions. The team’s faculty adviser, Professor Judy Kullberg, was impressed with their performance. “This is one of the best teams I’ve seen. For four days, I observed our delegates consistently in the center of the action, leading discussions, making key speeches, and contributing actively to resolutions.” The superior performance of the team resulted in five awards. Jelani McGadney received Honorable Mention as well as the Delegates’ Choice Award in the Security Council. Andrew Stefan was chosen as Outstanding Delegate in the CEIRPP. Cindil Redick received the Delegates’ Choice award for her work in the UN Environmental Program. For her effort in the CEIRPP, Tammy Grit received an Honorable Mention.
When asked about their experience at the conference, the students emphasized how much they had learned and how it had helped them develop their skills and realize their potential. Mike Burton commented that he learned that “not everyone shares the same viewpoint…there is always a middle ground and finding it is imperative in making a decision that will affect the world for a positive tomorrow.” Phoebe Conybeare believes that as a result of Model UN, she has “become more eloquent when addressing a group of people” and has learned how “to build alliances and make lasting friends.” Gerald Paulovich emphasized how much he had learned about the operations of the UN: “You get a sense of the political atmosphere within the UN that you can’t fully grasp until you’ve been part of something like a simulation.” Another student, Steve Haynes, felt the conference gave him confidence in his own abilities and “a sense of what I can be.” Also emphasizing the connection between Model UN and individual skill, Tammy Grit commented that she has “learned much more about communication and how important communication is for success in all aspects of life.”
The delegates also emphasized how much they enjoyed the conference. For Katie Collins, “The conference was awesome. It was fun. It was challenging, but ultimately it was a learning experience you could never get within the classroom.” Brian Sanders liked “meeting people from around the country and being able to get a sense of what it is like in real life working n the international community.” Drew Hinkle was fascinated by the challenge of “trying to understand how other delegates approached issues and how to best work together to accomplish shared goals.”
When asked if they would recommend Model UN to others, the students unanimously and enthusiastically said yes. Cindil Redick, the president of the UNA Student Alliance, a graduating senior and multiple Model UN award winner, says “I definitely recommend MUN to others - it's an invaluable experience and you will meet some of the greatest and most interesting people that you've ever met.” Jillian Berndt succinctly summarized the Model UN experience: “Model UN teaches you about world issues and then gives you an incredible experience that teaches life skills.”
