Model UN Attends Regional Debates

By: Morgan Pittala
Posted In: News

Members of Salve’s Model United Nations club are students interested in international affairs and world politics, and have a passion for sharing their views. Students in Model UN participate in real debates with other universities (on three to four day conferences,) go on field trips and the club also hosts guest speakers.

Members of Model UN attend “intercollegiate conferences,” where schools from all across the Northeast meet to participate in mock debates. These debates simulate actual United Nations meetings; where groups represent countries and discuss real- life issues. “I love the atmosphere at the conferences,” said Model UN president Jennifer Kehew, a junior. “Every delegate dresses in formal business attire and the entire time you are there you introduce yourself as the country you represent.”

“Although the conferences are taken seriously by many and the committee sessions can be intense, it’s a lot of fun,” added Kehew. “You meet people from countries such as Cuba, China, New Zealand and Brazil who have been working on the same committee as you for months.” This gives the students opportunity to express and debate their strong thoughts on current events in a real way.

Some of the issues, like the BP oil crisis, are discussed in the club, but other topics are much more obscure. Some attendees at a conference held at Yale University participated in a fantasy committee called “Paradise Lost.” Group members were divided into two parts: angels loyal to God and the fallen angels loyal to Lucifer.

While these exercises seem bizarre, they give students the unique chance to use information they had researched on their topics, and make their knowledge come to life. At club meetings, Model UN holds “crisis simulations,” which is basically practice to prepare for these conferences. All students are dedicated to representing Salve Regina in a very positive way.

Meetings are Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in Jazzman’s Café.

Contact: Jennifer Kehew for more info at jennifer.kehew@salve.edu