Lipscomb's first Model UN team prepares for conference at Emory University
Because of the persistence and dedication of a few College of Liberal Arts & Science students Lipscomb University now has its first Model UN team.
Anna Moseley |
Because of the persistence and dedication of a few students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Lipscomb University now has its first Model UN team, said Susan Haynes, assistant professor of political science at Lipscomb University.
Lipscomb’s inaugural Model United Nations club was established in 2018, and 10 members are set to participate in the seventh Model United Nations conference at Emory University Feb. 21-24.
Model UN is a simulation of the operations of the United Nations, the international organization that strives to maintain international peace and security.
Delegates at the Model UN will be assigned a real-world character or nation and will debate to address simulated real-world issues such as a national financial crisis, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or confrontation in China.
Each delegate receives background information to develop an overall view of the issues at hand. Once they attend the conference, delegates are prepared to write a resolution to move the world closer to international harmony.
During the simulation, each character or country presents their resolutions. Then they enter a round of debate, followed by another round of presenting resolutions, and this cycle continues until everyone votes one resolution.
Students from any major and projected career path are invited to join the Model UN club. The club held three mini-simulations throughout the semester and attended international career panels to prepare for the conference.
When sophomore political science and classical piano major Dexter Woods, president of Lipscomb’s Model UN team, first proposed the idea of creating a team, he never imagined the team would be ready to go to a conference during their inaugural year, he said.
Much of his desire to create a Model UN chapter at Lipscomb stemmed from the positive experience he had participating in his high school’s team. Woods said his time engaging in the Model UN team opened his eyes to the events occurring around the world and caused him to think outside himself.
“During my time participating in Model UN in high school, I felt a wake-up call to a lot of different issues going on in the world,” said Woods. “After that initial jolt, I have been working to sustain my understanding that there is much more going on in the world outside of Nashville, Tennessee.”
Haynes was impressed that freshmen-level students approached her with the desire to start a Model UN club and said she believes participation in this club will foster a host of skills valuable to a variety of professions.
“Model UN provides students with an opportunity to learn conflict mediation and negotiation skills,” said Haynes. “There is a high level of knowledge students need to know about the world going into the conference, and for them to challenge themselves to have that level of knowledge is uncommon.
“It can be easy for us to tune out the world and focus on our own happenings, but if you are a knowledgeable person about the world, a broad worldview will take you far in your career.”
As students in Model UN challenge themselves to grow their knowledge and to maintain an open mind, Haynes said they begin to acknowledge, learn and engage with the world.
Participation in this club is a great way to quench the thirst students who have ventured on a global learning trip or have participated in a study abroad program have developed once they return to America, Haynes said.
“This is another avenue of global awareness,” she said. “Studying abroad is one way to get engaged, but this club allows students to think about and engage with global learning even after coming back to America. Students can learn about what is still happening in the countries they grew to love while intellectually and professionally connecting with likeminded students in conversation about those countries.”
Want to know more about the Model UN club? Contact Dexter Woods.