Elizabethtown College students participate in model United Nations conference

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E-town College's Delegation at Harvard National Model United Nations

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (03/14/2012)(readMedia)-- Seven students from Elizabethtown College participated in the Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) held February 16-19 at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston, Ma. The participants are from Elizabethtown College Professor Oya Ozkanca's Political Science Model United Nations class (PS371):

  • Abdullah Ata, Political Science, Senior
  • Ambre Biehl, Political Science/Sociology-Anthropology, Junior
  • Lauren Hamilton, Political Science/Criminal Justice, Senior
  • Annie Ngo, Political Science, Sophomore
  • Maragda Grau Raurich, International Student, non-degree program, Senior
  • Christina Wheeler, Head Delegate during HNMUN, Political Science, Sophomore
  • Paul Whitman, Political Science, Junior

Throughout the PS 371 course, students learned about the history of the United Nations, various institutions of the United Nations and their functions and important topics on the United Nations agenda. During the four-day conference-from Feb. 16-19-students engaged in decision-making processes and diplomacy first-hand while producing resolutions which are adopted at the end of the conference.

The E-town Delegation represented Somalia at various United Nations committees including Legal, World Health Organization, Special Summit on Non-Discrimination, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Special Political and Decolonization and Social Humanitarian and Cultural Committees. During the four-day experiential learning event, students simulated the United Nations' decision-making processes on a variety of topics ranging from minority rights to nuclear proliferation. Financial support from the Center for Global Citizenship made the trip possible. This year is the first that Elizabethtown College participated in HNMUN.

"Students applied knowledge using interpersonal communication and bargaining skills in a real-time simulation of international diplomacy," said Dr. Ozkanca. "They negotiated and debated and had to think creatively about solving global problems."

The E-town Delegation will elaborate on their HNMUN experience during a panel titled "Model UN: Experiencing the World of International Diplomacy" during the 2012 Scholarship and Creative Arts Day at the College on Tuesday, April 24th 2012.

Founded in 1955, only a decade after the creation of the actual United Nations, HNMUN is the largest, oldest and most prestigious conference of its kind. True to the mission of the real United Nations as declared in its 1945 charter, HNMUN serves as a forum in which more than 3,000 students from colleges and universities around the world discuss the greatest challenges facing the world today, simulating the activities faced by the real-world United Nations, in fields ranging from international peace and security to economic and social progress and human rights. HNMUN offers a unique opportunity to experience the complexities of international negotiation and diplomacy.

Links:

www.hnmun.org