Young Diplomats Tackle World Affairs at
19th Annual GM MUN Conference
By Anna Duning (October 3, 2006)
Nations from six continents met
at our own George Mason High School to discuss pressing international
affairs and plot
the world’s current direction this past weekend. Well, not exactly,
but the stream of events was not far from this as Mason was the host
of the nineteenth annual Model United Nations Conference.
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Beginning
Friday night and continuing through Saturday, seven area schools
representing various countries, convened at Mason, simulating
a UN conference. As delegates of their respective countries,
groups of students met throughout the school to debate important
topics and form with their alliance countries.
As hosts of the conference,
members of Mason’s
Model United Nations club, sponsored by Ms.
Tammy Chincheck, did not actually debate,
but ran the committees. In her fourth year as a MUN member, senior Mariam Alshagra, acted as Secretary
General, essentially managing the entire conference. Running
from one committee to another, she commented, “I’m very happy
as far as it’s been going and I encourage more GM students to
join MUN.”
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From left, Khalil Karrakchou, Juliana Hardesty and Lydia Fairfax listen as
student delegates debate international issues in the French Cabinet
Committee, Saturday. (Photo by Anna Duning)
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Committees convened to discuss topics related to disarmament
and security, social and humanitarian issues, political and decolonization
issues, as well as crime prevention and control. Special committees
included the World Health Organization, the French Cabinet, the Security
Council and the Historic Security Council, which was in fact run by
George Mason alumnus, Michael Duarte.
Three
specialized groups discussed world crises, some very closely related
to real world events and some more creative. Such crises included a
discussion directed by Jeff Person about malaria in Africa and another
about Chinese aid in Iran’s nuclear commitment.
Dressed in business attire, students conducted themselves
according to MUN parliamentary procedure and spoke in diplomatic language.
Despite the gravity of the issues and procedure, students thoroughly
enjoyed themselves and Mariam even warned
in her address to the guests not to get too “silly.”
At the end of the conference, awards were distributed
to various schools for their outstanding performances. Thomas Jefferson
High School was given the Secretary General Award while the smallest
delegation, Hylton High School, was honored with the under Secretary
General Award.
