Model United Nations Club Represents Philippines and Micronesia at International Conference

trevor.kenney — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:53:26 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Model United Nations Club takes on delegates from around the world with their largest ever delegation -- 28 students – at the Harvard National Model United Nations Conference (HNMUN) in Boston, MA.

As two separate teams, the group represents the Philippines and Micronesia, and have spent the past months boning up on the political and cultural challenges each country faces.

As well, team members participate in sub-groups which debate and discuss topics such as Cyberterrorism to Ethics in Drug Research and Development and Human Trafficking.

"Students get a first-hand experience of international relations in action," said MUN Club president Vanessa Lodermeier, a 5th year, Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science student who won an Outstanding Delegate Award last year for her debate topic on Somali Pirates.

"We learn skills of diplomacy, debate and compromise – all skills which transfer not only back to the classroom, but also to the workplace. As well, learning the research process is also valuable for classes that require research papers." Lodermeier added that many students who join the club will also go on to pursue graduate school or professional schools, such as Law and Medicine.

The MUN Club Executive: (Left to right) Rhys Hakstol, 2nd year, Biochemistry; Daniel Wyton, 3rd year, Biology; Bethany Schmidt, 4th year, Sociology, Kailey Little, 2nd year, Open Studies, Vanessa Lodermeier, 5th year, Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science.

HNMUN 2011 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Delegation:

Anastasia Sereda
Bethany Schmidt
Brett Stephenson
Brittany Kocken
Cayley Rauw
Christopher Hollingsworth
Dan Kapusta
Daniel Wyton
Devynn King
Elizabeth Young
Erin Little
Ian Ouwerkerk
Jared Byrne
Josh Seerattan
Kelsay Gault
Kevan Smith
Marcie Wallace
Melissa Kostiuk
Michael Amatto
Mohsin Altaf
Muzzamil Hussain
Nathan Kostiuk

Model UN Club off to Boston

trevor.kenney — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:13:48 +0000

They may be from Lethbridge, Calgary, Milk River or Okotoks, Alberta, but for the next week, 20 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students will have to believe they are from Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony on the south-east coast of Africa - or the Marshall Islands, a tiny republic located near the equator in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Though the locations couldn't be more different, the team's goal is the same: to represent each country to the best of their ability at the 2010 Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) conference (Feb. 11-14) in Boston, Mass.

The U of L's Model UN Club heads to Boston to take part in the 2010 Harvard National Model United Nations conference.

This ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Model United Nations Club has been sending delegates to national or international conferences since 2003. This year, they will join hundreds of other delegates to represent more than 35 countries to debate, negotiate and compromise on a number of international issues. The HNMUN is one of the largest, oldest and most prestigious conferences in the world.

"This Model United Nations conference offers an arena for our students to develop and hone their public speaking abilities, interpersonal skills and knowledge of international relations," said club spokesperson and president Brittany Kocken.

"Participating in this conference has long-term benefits for students, as the skills and knowledge they learn can be brought back to campus and applied to their own studies and workplaces. The benefits we gain can provide our club members with an edge when they apply to graduate and professional programs."

Kocken said that there is no better way to learn than being a part of the actual process. "Teams are assigned committees which simulate committees operating at the actual United Nations, and are required to research and write position papers regarding the issues in their specified committees."

"The topics are as diverse as "Ending World Hunger" and "International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, for example," Kocken said. "In the past, our delegates have come away from the experience with a deeper understanding of the international system, plus some great new friendships. Moreover, in past conferences, some of our delegates have even won awards for their outstanding committee performances."

UNews - Brittany Kocken

Model United Nations Club Represents Philippines and Micronesia at International Conference

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Model UN Club off to Boston

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