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Model United Nations is a student organization that works to provide
a further understanding of the UN diplomatic processes and contemporary
international issues. Students attend UN conferences and simulate
the role of delegates from pre-assigned countries. The College sends
approximately twenty-four students to two annual conferences that
draw delegations from hundreds of colleges and universities from
across the United States and abroad. The team travels to the American
Model United Nations conference in Chicago in the fall and the National
Model United Nations conference in New York City each spring. Wooster
has represented a wide array of countries over the years, including
Australia, Cameroon, Chad, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Indonesia,
Iran, Ireland, Kuwait, Lebanon, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, South
Korea, Togo, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
The team has received distinguished representation awards at the
American Model United Nations, was named the overall champion at
the 1998 Cleveland Model United Nations Conference, and a New York
delegation representing Germany was profiled in the magazine Jetzt.
The team won three top awards at the 2007 American Model United
Nations competition in Chicago. See the related press release at
http://www.wooster.edu/news/0708/news/ModelUNRecap.php.
In preparation for the conferences, students meet weekly to become
knowledgeable regarding the general workings of the UN and skilled
representatives of their assigned country. Students work to master
UN rules of procedure over several mock debate sessions. Being named
to the conference traveling team is a competitive process and students'
performances at these sessions are carefully assessed. Team members
must also research and develop position papers on their country
(including background and current events), the topics of discussion
for their assigned committees, and the positions of other countries
(both allies and adversaries). In order to promote team cohesion,
as well as further understanding about their countries, a potluck
dinner is held where team members bring dishes based on the countries
being represented that semester. Finally, students are debriefed
by their advisor after a conference in order to reinforce lessons
learned and to build upon successes for the next competition. |
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