Monmouth University’s Model United Nations (MUN) team travelled to Los Angeles, CA, on Oct. 21-24 to compete at Troganmun, a MUN contest hosted by the University of Southern California. Universities from across the U.S. sent student delegations.
Representing Monmouth was Head Delegate Gabriella Griffo, junior political science student, and five other students: Sarah Reutti, junior political science major; Sabria Smith, junior political science major; Nick Yalch, junior business economics major; Madison Hanrahan, senior political science major; and Catherine Melman-Kenny, senior political science and anthropology major. Yalch and Smith took home a Verbal Accommodation award for their performance. Samuel Maynard, instructor in the department of Political Science, travelled with the group and coached them at this national conference.
Model UN contests simulate the operations of the United Nations and students compete on committees, represent specific countries, and are tasked with negotiating and drafting policy resolutions that address specific international or regional challenges such as nuclear weapons, climate change, poverty, and business development. Model UN helps students develop writing, negotiation, public speaking and independent research skills in addition to being an opportunity to travel and meet college students from around the country and world.
Monmouth’s Model UN team will be sending a delegation of 30 students to compete at the National Contest held in Washington D.C. on November 5-7. In the spring semester, teams will participate at contests in Boston, MA, and Charlotte, NC.
Model UN is open to all undergraduates, and each semester Monmouth attends two contests. Students interested in joining Model UN should contact Ken Mitchell, Ph.D., faculty advisor (kmitchel@monmouth.edu) or student captains Griffo, Reutti or Smith.