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Model United Nations
326 Students from 11 Schools Attend
Annual GMHS MUN Conference
Rabita Aziz (October
16, 2004)
Thirty Mason students
participated in creating a successful annual Model United Nations
conference on October 1 and 2. Mason hosted 11 schools, with 326
students in attendance, at the conference. Students chose to be a part
of seven different United Nations committees, such as SOCHUM (Social
Humanitarian)--chaired by Rabita Aziz and senior Madiha Khan; National
Security Council--chaired by MUN president senior Natalie Krachman;
DISEC (Disarmament and Security)--chaired by junior Sofia Misenheimer,
and other actual UN committees. The entire event was organized chiefly
by Secretary General senior Jasmin Lief, along with Undersecretary
General, sophomore Miriam Al-Shagra.
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Model
United Nations
conferences consist of students, representing different countries,
discussing current world affairs relating to their specific committees.
Students then create their own solutions to the issues at hand, which
are then put to a vote, just as the real United Nations would do. Mason
student chairs then choose which nation, or students, will be rewarded
special commendations for their superior performance during the
conference.
Issues discussed
this year
covered a large spectrum, from human trafficking to water shortage
problems in many developing nations. Two written commendations from
each committee chair were given to students representing nations, from
such large schools as Hylton High School and Thomas Jefferson High
School receiving the most awards. Mason MUN advisor Tammy Chincheck
said, "All the advisors were very pleased with all the efforts by the
GM students, especially with a conference that began only three weeks
after the start of school."
All the students
involved with
this conference would admit that it was a tough event to be involved
in, with some committees headed by two chairs, consisting of more than
70, sometimes loud, students. Most students seek to be a part of the
MUN experience to gain a more internationally inspired perspective, and
to gain speaking and social skills as well as learning about the
international world.
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New FCCPS Superintendent Lois Berlin
addresses
the students from over 11 schools about the
importance of participating in Moden UN at the
opening ceremony.
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Senior
Jasmine Lief takes a break from her job as
Secretary General of the GMHS Moden United Nations
Conference to join fellow senior, and Social and
Humanitarian Committee, Madiha Khan as she
tries to bring order to the rambunctious committee.
(photo by Rabita Aziz)
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Senior
chair Alex Burnett-Greenstein talks to junior,
and fellow chair Racho Moustafov about the
conference they are about to take part in, while
senior Laiqah Al-Habsy and sophomore Ashleigh
Hackett look around to see if they know any of the
326 students from different schools milling around
the entrance before the opening ceremony begins.
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Tell us
what you think.
E-mail lassogmhs@hotmail.com
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