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Model United Nations Program
For more than a decade, the Department of Political Science at Eastern Michigan University has offered a Model United Nations program to EMU students. Support from the Jackson Social Welfare Fund and generous alumni has contributed significantly to the development of the program, enabling an ever increasing number of students to participate in the Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) Conference. MMUN promotes awareness of international issues and conflicts, and also instills an appreciation of the critical role of the United Nations in resolving conflicts and forging collective responses to global problems. At the 2007 MMUN conference, the EMU team will represent Denmark, Poland, and Kenya. Model UN Program Description and Background
The EMU Model UN program began in 1992 with the addition of a course on the United Nations to the political science curriculum. Strong student interest in Model UN led to the creation of a student Model UN Club in 2000. Since 2000, each year's EMU Model UN team has been composed of two groups of students, those who are members of the club and those enrolled in the Model UN course, PLSC 343. The primary focus of both club and class is to prepare students to participate in the Midwest Model United Nations (MMUN) conference, which is a realistic simulation of an entire session of the Untied Nations. At MMUN, delegations of college and university students represent the 191 nations of the world in the various bodies and councils of the UN, including the Security Council, the General Assembly, the six committees of the General Assembly, and the Economic and Social Council. In committee and council sessions, the students represent the positions of their countries on actual issues currently being considered by the United Nations. The 2006 MMUN conference, for example, was devoted to the consideration of such issues as improving the performance of peacekeeping forces, halting regional nuclear proliferation, reducing global poverty, enhancing the status of women, and improving the provision of humanitarian relief. Students engage in formal debate on such topics, discuss them informally in caucus, and, finally, draft resolutions that specify actions to be taken and programs to be implemented. To be adopted, resolutions must be supported by a majority of states in the General Assembly. Ideally, they should be adopted by consensus, which is the support of all, or nearly all members. In order to build consensual support for a resolution, student delegates must engage in extensive discussions and negotiations. In sum, MMUN replicates the actually policy process of the United Nations. By participating in MMUN, students enjoy a "hands-on" learning experience that they remember long after the semester is over, largely because it so significantly augments their education. They acquire expertise on international issues and conflicts as well as knowledge of multilateral diplomacy and the operations of the UN. They also develop speaking and negotiation skills and learn how to work with others to solve real world problems. The knowledge and skills acquired through participation in Model UN stay with students throughout their lives and allow them to become leaders in their communities and professions. The formal recognition consistently given to EMU delegations by the MMUN staff is a good indicator of the strength of our program and the extent to which students benefit from it. EMU delegations have received awards in each of the last seven years. In 2006, the EMU team brought home more awards than in any previous year: three "Outstanding Delegation" awards and three "Honorable Mention" recognitions. Seven students, more than one quarter of the entire team, were recognized for their excellent performance. Insofar as participation in the EMU Model UN program instills a deep understanding of international institutions, collective security, and multilateral diplomacy in future leaders, it also contributes to public awareness of, and support for, peaceful approaches to the resolution of international conflicts. Empowered with knowledge of world affairs and enhanced skills, students can become important agents for change in their communities. A fine example of this effect from Model UN participation is a symposium, “The International Response to Genocide in the 21st Century: The Crisis in Darfur” held at EMU on April 20, 2006. While participating in MMUN in February, the students in the Model UN class learned about the ongoing genocide in Darfur. After returning to campus, they expressed an interest in learning more about the genocide, but also in taking action. The symposium was held in conjunction with the Huron Valley United Nations Association. Students not only composed and presented a well-researched dramatization of a 1994 Security Council session on Rwanda, but they also designed the promotional materials and multimedia presentation for the symposium, and helped to publicize the event. Several subsequently attended the Save Darfur rally in Washington, D.C. on April 30 and are now actively involved in STAND (Students Taking Action Now on Darfur), a national student organization. Moreover, after the MMUN conference there was strong support within the club and the class for expanding the activities of EMU’s Model UN program. As a means of doing this and becoming more involved in the community, the students have formed a chapter of the United Nations Association Student Alliance under the sponsorship of the HVUNA. Among the initiatives the club is now considering is hosting Model UN conferences for area middle and high schools students.
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