By Madeleine Faircloth
Contributing Writer
St. Bonaventure University’s Model United Nations (SBUMUN) will host more than 230 high school students for a conference on Saturday.
The conference has been hosted by St. Bonaventure for more than a decade and continues this year with students visiting from 15 high schools across Western New York and Pennsylvania, according to Ibrahim Zabad, an assistant political science professor and Model United Nation’s faculty advisor.
During the conference, students play the role of United Nations member states and are divided into different committees corresponding with actual United Nations committees. The students imitate their work and responsibilities.
Students are expected to research their particular committee and learn more about what issues it covers and how it handles them. Students discuss current international conflicts, hold negotiations, review parliamentary procedures and practice writing resolutions.
“This is part of our commitment to disseminate knowledge to our area’s schools and to introduce those students to St. Bonaventure University,” Zabad said.
All St. Bonaventure Model United Nations members will guide the high school students and host the event with little guidance from faculty, Zabad said. It is a learning experience for both Model UN members and the high school students, he added.
While this is one of St. Bonaventure’s Model United Nations club’s main events, the club participates in several other activities throughout the year.
The club competed in scrimmages during the fall semester hosted by Mercyhurst University where they placed second. Although the event was only a scrimmage, it shows the level of performance and potential the club possesses, according to Zabad.
SBUMUN also placed third at the Lake Erie Model United Nations Conference this past fall semester as well as earning five “Excellent” awards, showing their consistent performance.
The team was also awarded one of two “Superior” awards given at the conference. This follows the success of the team in last year’s conference, coming back with five “Excellent” awards as well as the “Best Small School Delegate” award.
SBUMUN offers a learning experience for both high school and college students. Students in the club also compete in state and local competitions. St. Bonaventure students are able to earn three credits from SBUMUN.
Students, or delegates as they are referred as, are expected to understand and represent different countries in the United Nations. Students then participate in different stimulations such as defending their country against aggression while incorporating real UN policies and procedures, according to Lauren Loftin, a senior journalism and mass communication major.
Members gain leadership skills and debate skills while becoming more informed on international issues, foreign policies, and conflict resolutions they can utilize in everyday conversations and future careers, she said.
“I have participated in Model United Nations for three years, and it has given me a solid foundation of international relations, which will guide my future career in the United Nations organization,” Loftin said.
SBUMUN is active in academics, the surrounding community and the campus. Members say they leave possessing unique life skills found only from this club.
If you are interested in joining SBU Model UN, you can contact Zabad (izabad@sbu.edu) or Loftin (loftinlm10@bonaventure.edu).
fairclmm13@bonaventure.edu
