MUN competes in Boston
Harvard-based event draws 2,500 students, including 15 from TU, to simulated UN activities
Emily Faber
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: News
On Feb. 12, Trinity's Model United Nations (MUN) team traveled to Boston, Mass. to attend the Harvard National Model United Nations conference to participate in simulated UN activities.
According to International Student Advisor Inessa Stepanenko, the faculty advisor for MUN, the annual conference is the largest, oldest and most prestigious conference of its kind. The event draws over 2,500 students and faculty members to Harvard's campus for three days of conferences that simulate the activities of the United Nations. Trinity was represented by its 15-student team, which in turn was assigned by the conference to represent the countries of Sudan and the Republic of Congo.
"Half of the students on our team, they're international students," said Junior Amalia Benke. "It's really cool - you have international students representing other countries." Benke is one of two head delegates on MUN, who, as head delegate, had the added responsibility of leading the team and making sure everyone was doing what they needed to do. Because the conference drew representatives from schools around the world, she added that it was not only nice working with international students at Trinity, it was also a good experience interacting with other students from all over the world.
According to Stepanenko, involvement in MUN was a highly beneficial experience for students, because it helped broaden their "scope of knowledge about current affairs, political issues and necessity of diplomacy. MUN also helps students improve their public speaking abilities." The team is still waiting to hear back from the conference as to the results regarding what schools earned awards for their performance.
"Seeing people getting up and talking in the microphone in front of hundreds of people - it's really motivating, to know people are really trying and not just sitting back in the corner. The people in our delegation did a really good job of getting involved and working with people on resolutions," Benke said. "I guess that was my favorite part. Even people with zero experience were going out and talking with people and putting themselves out there."
According to International Student Advisor Inessa Stepanenko, the faculty advisor for MUN, the annual conference is the largest, oldest and most prestigious conference of its kind. The event draws over 2,500 students and faculty members to Harvard's campus for three days of conferences that simulate the activities of the United Nations. Trinity was represented by its 15-student team, which in turn was assigned by the conference to represent the countries of Sudan and the Republic of Congo.
"Half of the students on our team, they're international students," said Junior Amalia Benke. "It's really cool - you have international students representing other countries." Benke is one of two head delegates on MUN, who, as head delegate, had the added responsibility of leading the team and making sure everyone was doing what they needed to do. Because the conference drew representatives from schools around the world, she added that it was not only nice working with international students at Trinity, it was also a good experience interacting with other students from all over the world.
According to Stepanenko, involvement in MUN was a highly beneficial experience for students, because it helped broaden their "scope of knowledge about current affairs, political issues and necessity of diplomacy. MUN also helps students improve their public speaking abilities." The team is still waiting to hear back from the conference as to the results regarding what schools earned awards for their performance.
"Seeing people getting up and talking in the microphone in front of hundreds of people - it's really motivating, to know people are really trying and not just sitting back in the corner. The people in our delegation did a really good job of getting involved and working with people on resolutions," Benke said. "I guess that was my favorite part. Even people with zero experience were going out and talking with people and putting themselves out there."
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