St. Bonaventure University’s Model United Nations(MUN) delegates left campus at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 6, for the Lake Erie International Model United Nations conference (LEIMUN). The trip took four hours, and soon after their arrival, the delegates headed off to opening ceremonies. Dr. Ibrahim Zabad, a political science professor at St. Bonaventure university, has been preparing his students for LEIMUN for three months.
From their arrival at the hotel, they entered the first of five sessions that would span the course of three days. In between sessions, delegates worked on perfecting their debate skills and acquired information. During the conference, they stayed at a hotel which doubled as an indoor water park. Castaway Bay in Sandusky, Ohio.
Twenty-two students from St. Bonaventure University ended up attending the conference, and were divided up into six committees including the Security Council, the Historical Security Council 1956, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) and the European Council. Only one delegate participated in the A-team committee, which is stands for “Absent Nations Team”. The A-Team is short for “Absent Nations Team.” Many of the committees address subjects and topics involving countries which are not present on that particular committee’s membership. Although he isn’t a St. Bonaventure student, he was memorable for his portrayal of multiple countries at once, as well as a 15-year-old Bernie Sanders.
On the first night of their stay, delegates attended a professional party. The next day, the delegates burned through two more sessions, which together amassed a total of 7.5 hours in committee. After the end of the third session, each school met up to have dinner. Later that night, delegates from nearly all the attending schools went to the Castaway Bay indoor waterpark, and by the third day, all of the schools were ready to rest.
Many of St. Bonaventure’s delegates reported to have enjoyed the conference after their return.
“I loved getting so involved with these topics and seeing how invested people got with the committees, especially heated discussions and caucuses,” says Valentina Cossio, a freshman business major. “Model UN appeals to all grade levels and is an educational experience for all who partake in it.”
“I enjoyed the challenge of public speaking in that setting and loved learning about policy, as well as meeting new people,” says Mary Esposito, a sophomore biochemistry major.
In the end, St. Bonaventure University kept its spot in second place, the same place they were last year. The university currently shares second place with Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Seven of the 22 St. Bonaventure students attending won “excellence” awards in their respective committees for being outstanding delegates. The students headed home immediately after the ceremony, and after another four hours of driving and one stop at Panera Bread, the delegates returned home around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
In March, the university will be hosting a high school Model United Nations conference on campus. The college students will be the acting chairs of the Model UN for the high school students attending.
It is clear that St. Bonaventure’s Model UN team will not be slowing down anytime soon.
By Grace Usala, Staff Writer
usalagc19@bonaventure.edu
