Taking a bite out of diplomacy
BY CANDY SMITH
Twelve Green Mountain College students, who compose the college’s Model United Nations team, will be in New York City competing in one of the largest United Nations simulations in the world. In 2008, the conference was attended by almost 4,700 students, out of which over 50 percent were non-U.S. nationals.
“I am most excited about the experience. MUN is something I enjoy, and the most valuable part you can take out of it are the long lasting friendships,” said GMC’s head delegate Jose Galvez-Contreras. “I met one of my best friends, Paul Montoya, at a Honduras MUN. This conference is a good opportunity for networking as well.” Galvez-Contreras has been active in Model UN since his freshman year of highschool back in Honduras. He was also a delegate for the GMC team last year.
The delegates from Green Mountain are representing a United Nations Member State – Republic of Mali. At the conference, they are expected to have knowledge of and debate on topics such as economic and social issues in relation to the nation they are representing. The group has dedicated much of their semester in preparation for this event, and has been handsomely rewarded with a $1,000 Hayden Fund scholarship from the Model United Nations, as well as a substantial contribution from Green Mountain College to aid in their participation on the team.
“This year we have been constantly working with the students to have them learn the appropriate parliamentary procedure for the conference. The students have knowledge and skill on how to present a position, draft a working paper, and move forward to introduce a resolution, just as they do in the United Nations,” said Galvez-Contreras. “After the selection process, where we had 19 applicants, we have been meeting non-stop every Sunday.”
He also explained the value of the Model UN team to the college. “Model UN is extremely beneficial not just to this institution but any other where the conference of the debate is brought into being. It helps students become aware of current global concerns in relation to poverty, climate change, and political affairs, explained Galvez-Contreras.
The conference will be taking place at the Marriot in Times Square, but the closing cermony will give delegates the opportunity to sit at the United Nations Headquarters. “We hope that MUN becomes a tradition at Green Mountain College. We are training a good group of people who will do a wonderful job. GMC’s delegation is strong, confident, and committed….our twelve delegates will represent GMC with pride,” concluded Galvez-Contreras.
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