Model United Nations Offers Opportunities to Learn, Volunteer

Students participating in UNC Charlotte’s Model United Nations this year have found increased opportunities to compete nationally and internationally, as well as options for volunteering in the local community.

“I am very excited for our team participating in three conferences,” said Noah Vetter, Model UN president. “The first is the 27th Annual Carolinas Conference hosted by our organization at UNC Charlotte, the second will be the National Model UN Conference in Washington, D.C., and the final will be the Southern Regional Model UN Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.”

The Carolinas Conference, on Oct. 21-23, is a dedicated learning event for colleges and high schools to engage in important discussion on global issues that will shape the next generation. The goal is to grow students as delegates and as active participants in issues across the world.

This year’s theme is “The Discipline of Peace: Fostering Cooperation in a Multicultural and Inter-Connected World.” Delegates will have the chance to create innovative solutions to crucial topics.

UNC Charlotte Model UN students in spring 2017 also will attend the Harvard World United Nations in Montreal, Canada, where they will compete against 2,000 university students from over 115 countries.

Model UN simulates the United Nations in an academic environment. Students who join the Model UN program engage in activities such as mock debates to prepare for competitions where they represent countries and attend embassy and committee briefings. Model UN also gives students the opportunity to practice their research skills and argumentation skills.

“Becoming global citizens who know and care about their world enriches their lives in countless ways,” said Cindy Combs, faculty advisor and Political Science and Public Administration professor. “They want others to understand the value of their Model UN experience.”

Model UN works to educate delegates on international policies and institutions, and helps students develop potential solutions to international issues.

“Students explore international policies in depth and begin to understand how those policies are made,” said Mary Jo Shepherd, a Political Science and Public Administration lecturer who teaches the Model UN class. “It’s important in Model UN to think about the expected outcome the country you represent would pursue on a given topic.”

Students gain important skills including negotiation, debate, and confidence on public speaking, the advisors said. Experienced and new members of Model UN work together every semester to prepare for competitions.

“Every semester there is something new to learn,” said Nakia Wortherly-Foye, a second year Model UN student. “The first semester you are just trying to keep up with the more experienced students and learn the ropes, but every semester there is something new to work on whether it is public speaking, caucusing, or even working with a new partner.”

In addition to attending conferences, students volunteer through varied community events, particularly the annual UNC Charlotte International Festival. They also each year participate in the annual Joint WorldQuest / Academic WorldQuest competition hosted in Charlotte on Nov. 10 by the World Affairs Council of Charlotte. High school students, businesses and individual groups will compete in this community version of a global knowledge competition.

All these opportunities, organizers and student leaders say, provide a broad, globally-focused approach to help students grow as future leaders in an increasingly diverse world.

Words: Erin Cortez | Images: Lynn Roberson