Students Kick Off Model UN in Preparation for National Spring Event
Olga Bonfiglio
College of Arts and Sciences staff writer
The Model UN Club at WMU began the Fall 2015 semester with a series of diplomatic activities. This new RSO was formed in April and began official meetings in September. This program is a student-run organization sponsored by Global and International Studies.
The first simulation was held on October 23 when 20 undergraduates represented members of the U.S. Embassy in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and had to negotiate the foreign aid budget for that country for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. Working in three separate groups, the students had to address the strengths and weaknesses of six different aid projects that included a public health program designed to prevent another Ebola epidemic; development of a National Guard force to provide security while promoting democracy; a telecommunications project that would expand cell phone access across the republic; the expansion of educational opportunities for second education teachers; a port development project to expand exports; and an agriculture program that would encourage the production of cash crops for export. Each project had a stated cost and was championed by a member of the embassy staff during the deliberations. The group then had to formulate a budget proposal that came under a non-negotiable ceiling cap and select a speaker who presented their proposals to the ambassador.
The club conducted its second simulation on November 9 and addressed the issue of Syrian refugees and their impact on Europe. Thirty-two students attended this activity which featured debates between different groups representing pro-refugee and anti-refugee perspectives as well as groups that addressed the German, French, and Turkish government positions. Members of each group met and formed a policy recommendation, and a spokesperson then presented their reports to the others. This led to a moderated debate and a final wrap-up. Students practiced their policy-making and speaking skills to convince members of other groups to adopt their positions.
The Model UN held its third training simulation on November 30 in which 18 students, each representing a different country, formulated a resolution to deal with issues associated with the contested Spratly Islands. The delegates had to select one of two topics to address, either the security of maritime shipping through the region or the prevention of overfishing in the southern South China Sea. The participants decided to focus on overfishing and developed a four point resolution decided to protect the commercial fish population to ensure sustainable fish yields in the region for future generations.
These simulation exercises will help WMU students prepare to participate in the North American Model UN Conference, which will be held in Toronto in February 2016.
The Model UN Club became a registered WMU student organization last spring. Students from all majors and minors are welcome to join. The group is also working with Global and International Studies to develop an annual Model UN conference for high school students in April 2016 on the Western campus.
For more information about the club, contact Sarah Hughey.