Model UN goes to UVA

Over the past few weekends, the Annandale chapter of model United Nations Attended various conferences. The first conference took place at Fairfax High School and the second was at the University of Virginia
   
“We have a great group of kids going this year, I think we’ll do very well. The kids just need to be informed about their topic and have fun. There is no way to know what you are doing unless you jump in and do it,” said Jonathon York, the sponsor of the club before the Fairfax conference began.  Although nobody won an award, it was a great learning experience for the new members.  
  
 Many sophomore students who are new to the club had mixed feelings before the Fairfax conference began. “I’m nervous and scared, yet I’m excited,” said sophomore Elisa Figueroa.
  
“ This was a great first experience for model UN and to learn what it’s all about,” said sophomore Paige Clark.

The common misconception of model UN to the average student is that those who are in the club go out and model clothes. Model UN is actually a club that participates in pseudo United Nation conferences where students from various schools take on the role of delegates from many countries around the world. Those who choose to take their part seriously research the topics of discussion and write a position paper based on their country’s opinions of the multiple topics.     
  
 In a general assembly, a chairperson who moderates the discussion starts the session by opening a speakers’ list of delegates who give their opinion on setting the agenda. Then, students go into moderated or unmoderated caucuses where they debate over the matter and come to written solutions, otherwise known as working papers. After that, students present their papers to the committee and vote on whether to pass the paper or not, which can be tedious work for the committee who could have up to ten papers at a time. They then vote and decide on a solution. However, a committee can go the entire span of the conference and still not a reach a solution.
   
Although participating can sound extremely stressful, not to mention confusing, there are many fun aspects of being in the Model United Nations. Students can go to various colleges and take tours of their potential future campus, eat whatever they want and shop until they drop during their free time. Many Annandale students got a chance to explore the college town of Charlottesville with a cup of starbucks at hand the entire UVA trip. “During the UVA trip I did well in my conference and ate at many restaurants with all my friends,” said sophomore Elisa Figueroa.
   
Emily Koppelman, senior and co president of the club applied and was accepted into the Jefferson Committee on Diplomacy, a prestigious committee in which only one senior of each school can be a part of.  The students on her UVA committee thought they would be reenacting Harry Truman’s cabinet but were tricked and told last minute that they were recreating the CIA in 1947, needing to work based on acquired knowledge.
   
“The trip was a success and we definitely gained a lot of new members, and although we did not win any awards were looking to continue the program and that’s what happened,” said Keppelman.
  
 For more information on Model United Nations, visit www.unausa.org and search “Model UN” or contact Jonathon York.