Beginning on Thursday, May 11, eight students represented Columbus Academy at the State Model United Nations Convention, hosted by the YMCA at Nazarene College in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Along with faculty advisor, Mr. Compton, Bobby Diller, Cole Duffy, Jay Gokhale, Thomas Jones, Hayden Meyers, Abhi Ramesh, Nathan Reddy, and Donovan Simpson were among over fifty invited to attend the Model UN. Students’ responsibilities at this event are numerous and complex.
Model UN students must first choose different world nations to represent in multi-student teams,and then become familiar with this county’s background, foreign relations, and policies. Students representing each nation must reflect the policies and views of the the country in all decision making, regardless of personal convictions. The Columbus Academy delegation chose to represent Canada and China.
In preparation, delegates must draft a resolution paper, closely mimicking those often presented at the United Nations. This resolution—an assertion or policy agenda as to a significant world issue—is presented, debated, and voted upon in a general assembly of all delegates in attendance, very similar to the proceedings of the United Nations. At the culmination of this process, the resolution fails, passes, or is subjected to an amendment and further modification.
Delegates are also responsible for compiling a report detailing each country that is represented, given during a “World Fair” session. Following all these proceedings, there is an awards ceremony at which the highest performing delegates and delegations are recognized.
Thomas Jones was named Outstanding Ambassador for his work. Abi Ramesh was elected president of the General Assembly for next year.
Model UN, organized in conjunction with other government programs such as JSA (Junior State of America) and YIG (Youth in Government), focuses on rendering delegates well versed in international law and policy. The convention instills valuable skills in its delegates, such as public oration, research, collaboration diplomacy, and perhaps most importantly, the ability to think outside of one’s comfort zone, prompting delegates to defend policies and promote agendas of which they might not personally agree.
Thus, in an ever increasingly globalized world, at Model UN, students from Columbus Academy have the opportunity to temporarily depart from the familiar “American” point of view and understand international events and the world through an alternate, “globalistic” mindset.
