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Model United Nations

Trying to Solve the World's Problems

Carthage College Model United Nations
travels to New York for national conference

Thirteen members of Carthage Model United Nations traveled to New York City March 29-April 3 for the 2010 National Model United Nations-New York conference. There, they met with almost 3,000 college students from around the world to discuss current global issues and propose potential solutions.

Model United Nations is a student organization that simulates the actions of the United Nations. Carthage College Model United Nations (CCMUN) attends at least two conferences a year, representing a different country at each conference.

Kaitlin Lowry, '12

"We look at issues the United Nations is facing, and we attempt to solve those issues the same way they are," said Amanda Laukant, '11, a social work major from Villa Park, Ill.

In the past, CCMUN has represented Austria, the Russian Federation, Costa Rica, Swaziland, India and other countries. In New York, the Carthage students represented the Central African Republic, a country of 4.5 million people that is one of the 10 poorest nations in Africa. Five members of the team also had the opportunity to meet Fernand Poukre-Kono, the country's Ambassador to the United Nations.

"That was really interesting," said CCMUN president Kaitlin Lowry, '12, from O'Fallon, Ill. "We asked him some really difficult questions about the Central African Republic, drawing from health care to development to blood diamonds. The Central African Republic has the worst infection rate of HIV/AIDS in Africa right now. I was really surprised because he was really honest with us about his country and its problems, especially about AIDS and education. ... It was really an eye-opening experience."

Months of preparation

To prepare for the conference, students spent months studying the Central African Republic's history, economy, politics, government and culture. "My students had to learn everything they could about the Central African Republic," said political science professor Jeffrey Roberg, club advisor.

"It's a lot of work," Amanda admitted. "It takes a lot of stamina and willpower to do all of the research ahead of time, and balance it with the work you are doing for your classes. But when you love it and appreciate it, you realize what a great experience it is."

"It's a lot of work. ... But when you love it and appreciate it, you realize what a great experience it is."

— Amanda Laukant, '11

Amanda has been involved with Model United Nations since her freshman year of high school. She said it's a great way to develop public speaking, negotiation and communication skills. "You learn about yourself as a learner and a researcher," she explained. "You learn how to deal with people in difficult situations. It’s all about diplomacy and presenting ideas in a way that won't offend other people, and working with people even if you don't agree, in order to come to a resolution."

Students must represent the interests of their assigned country, "which can be an extraordinarily wonderful experience because you are learning about a country from a completely different perspective,” Amanda said. “You may not agree with it, but you can at least understand sometimes where a country is coming from.”

Collaboration and diplomacy

In New York, the Carthage students sat on different UN committees, including General Assembly committees, the International Atomic Energy Agency, African Union, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., they discussed, debated and collaborated with college students from around the world to write resolutions.

Russell Hansen, '10, a political science major from Kenosha, sat on the General Assembly Plenary Committee, which discussed the United Nations' 10-year Millennium Plan. "The Millennium Plan has 10 different subtopics in it. Education and clean water were the two topics that we as the Central African Republic were primarily focused on," he said.

Amanda and Kaitlin met with the African Union to discuss how to enhance agriculture in African countries in order to achieve sustainable agriculture and food security. The group wrote and passed two resolutions: one dealt with infrastructure in relation to Africa's agricultural development; the other addressed food security and trade development within the African Union.

Where History is Made

The New York conference has an added benefit of providing students with an authentic backdrop for their discussions. The conference's closing ceremonies are held in the United Nations Headquarters. "Students sit at the actual desks of their country," said Prof. Roberg. "Students representing Iraq sit behind the placard that says 'Iraq' — the one you would see on TV on the nightly news."

"Model United Nations represents everything that a liberal arts college desires."

— Prof. Jeffrey Roberg

That was an incredible feeling, Amanda said. "Once you step inside and see these rooms where these resolutions are being passed and these incredible things are happening, it's very moving and very touching — just to think about the conversations that have taken place."

In addition to attending conferences, CCMUN hosts events on campus, including the annual High School Model United Nations Conference.

"Model United Nations represents everything that a liberal arts college desires," Prof. Roberg said. "Students have to conduct research to learn everything they possibly can about a particular country and the particular issues they are going to be discussing. They have to learn how to communicate well, both in written form, because they have to write official resolutions, and orally, by being a brave soul willing to speak to a room of a couple hundred strangers. ... In many ways, this is where the rubber meets the road for the liberal arts education."

Amanda Laukant, '11, and Russell Hansen, '10