Baylor Model UN students shine at Chicago conference

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By Rebecca J. Flavin, lecturer in political science and Model UN advisor

Fall 15 formal (1)

Last week, 12 Baylor University undergraduates traveled to Chicago to attend the American Model United Nations Conference, an annual event that brings together approximately 1,500 university students from around the world to participate in a simulation of the United Nations.

The Baylor team represented Slovakia at the conference, serving as diplomats in simulated sessions of the United Nations General Assembly committees (GA), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the International Court of Justice. The conference provided our students with an unparalleled learning experience, enabling them to take the knowledge and skills they acquire in the classroom and apply them to simulated experiences similar to those they will encounter in their post-graduate careers.

Through preparing for and participating in a Model UN conference, our students build myriad skills, including research, public speaking, technical writing and small-group negotiation. For this particular conference, our students became experts in contemporary issues facing the international community that include:

  • Migration (GA 3)
  • Agriculture, food security and nutrition (GA 2)
  • Oceans and Law of the Sea (General Assembly Plenary)
  • The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons (GA 1)
  • Cities and climate change (UN-Habitat)
  • Terrorism and international law (GA 6)
  • ICJ cases concerning the dispute over the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (ICJ)
  • Eco-tourism (GA 2)

For a full list of conference topics as well as more information about the conference, visit the American Model United Nations International website.

While we should celebrate the educational experience above all, our students excelled and represented Baylor well. I am delighted to announce that four of the 12 team members received individual awards at the conference and were named Outstanding Delegates by their peers in their respective committees. Those students who won awards are:

  • Conor Burns, International Court of Justice Outstanding Justice (senior, political science and philosophy)
  • Bailey Craig, General Assembly 6th Committee (freshman, pre-psychology)
  • Cambrey Dent, General Assembly 6th Committee (senior, political science)
  • Renie Saenz, UN-Habitat (senior, history)

On behalf of the students, I thank everyone for their continued support of Baylor Model United Nations, a program that helps us work toward our Pro Futuris aspiration of providing transformational educational experiences for our students.

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PHOTO AT TOP:

Bottom row (L to R): Cambrey Dent (senior, political science); Conor Burns (senior, political science and philosophy); Katrina Mañalac (junior, secondary education/social studies); Renie Saenz (Baylor MUN head delegate; senior, history); Caroline Caywood (junior, international studies and French); Bailey Craig (freshman, pre-psychology).

Top row (L to R): Chris Strange (junior, political science); Luis Andres Torres (freshman, pre-neuroscience); Megan Rollag (junior, Spanish and international studies); Kate Farley (junior, University Scholar); Matt Demond (senior, economics); Marc Webb (Baylor MUN assistant head delegate; junior, international studies).

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