Baylor students selected as Outstanding Delegates at Model United Nations conference in Chicago

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

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Last week, 14 Baylor University undergraduates traveled to Chicago to attend the American Model United Nations Conference. This year’s AMUN conference brought together more than 1,500 students representing more than 100 universities from around the world to participate in a simulation of the United Nations.

Our team represented Angola at the conference, serving as diplomats in simulated sessions of the United Nations General Assembly committees (GA), the Security Council (SC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The conference provided our students with an unparalleled learning experience, enabling them to take the knowledge and skills they acquire in Baylor’s classrooms and apply them to simulated experiences similar to those they will encounter in their postgraduate careers. Through preparing for and participating in a Model UN conference, our students hone 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:

  • Global health and foreign policy (General Assembly Plenary)
  • National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology (GA 1)
  • Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its contribution to sustainable development (GA 2)
  • Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons (GA 3)
  • Assistance in mine action (GA 4)
  • The situations in Mali, Syria and South Sudan, and other global crises (SC)
  • Measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation, transport and waste safety (IAEA)
  • Ecuador v. Colombia – aerial herbicide spraying (ICJ)
  • The situation in Afghanistan (General Assembly Plenary)
  • The safety of journalists and the issue of impunity (GA 3), and
  • Industrial development cooperation (GA 2)

A full list of conference topics, as well as more information about the conference, is available on the AMUN website.

While we should celebrate the educational experience above all, our students excelled and represented Baylor well. I am delighted to announce that three of the 14 team members received individual awards at the conference and were named Outstanding Delegates by their peers in their respective committees. Those students who won individual awards are:

  • Kate Farley, International Court of Justice Outstanding Justice (Baylor MUN assistant head delegate; senior, University Scholars)
  • Megan Rollag, Security Council (Baylor MUN assistant head delegate; Senior, international studies and Spanish)
  • Marc Webb, Security Council (Baylor MUN head delegate; senior, international studies)

Baylor Model United Nations and the university’s other fantastic experiential learning programs — including Mock Trial, Model Organization of American States and Moot Court — contribute to achievement of our Pro Futuris aspirations of providing transformational educational experiences that foster informed engagement for our students.

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PHOTO ABOVE

Bottom Row (left to right):

Sahir Amlani (junior, political science and history); Caroline Caywood (senior, international studies and French); Jamie Fortin (junior, pre-business); Jessica Chapa (senior, political science); Avery Godwin (senior, Baylor Business Fellows and accounting); Annie Pirrello (senior, political science); and Megan Rollag (Baylor MUN assistant head delegate, senior, Spanish and international studies).

Top Row (left to right):

Eric Vining (senior, journalism and political science); Grant McDonald (senior, political science); Marc Webb (Baylor MUN head delegate, senior, international studies); Bailey Craig (sophomore, pre-psychology); Kate Farley (Baylor MUN assistant head delegate, senior University Scholar); David Anaya (senior, political science); and Luis Andres Torres (sophomore, pre-neuroscience).

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