By Haven Wenzel
The back of the Capitol Building and the National Mall (credit to tripsavvy.com)
27 September, 2023- Central’s Model United Nations is heading to Washington, D.C., on February 14th, 2024, to participate in the National American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN) LXI, the 61st year of the international conference hosted by Georgetown University students. Central students will be able to take part in committees on topics ranging from the World Trade Organization to mimicking the responses to historical crises, with approximately 3,500 other delegates from across the US and the world. They also hope to use their weeklong trip to see several D.C. landmarks, like the Smithsonian, the National Mall, White House.
Model UN is an educational simulation of the United Nations where students learn about global issues and international relations. Participants, called delegates, research and then debate from the various perspectives of nations and organizations with the goal of settling a chosen issue. It is advised by the United Nations and hosted by various groups, meaning it exists internationally, usually in ages from elementary schools through universities.
Last year, four students and two advisors in Central’s MUN went to Seattle, Washington, for the Pacific MUN (PACMUN) conference, and weighed in on Post Office problems, futuristic colony crises, and a historical simulation. This year, they hope to double that number, part of their larger goal to expand their club’s focus and yearly programming. Currently in the works with a date to be decided is TryMUN, a practice simulation run by Central MUN to help interested students learn UN Procedure and flow of debate. We spoke with Henry Doellinger, one of the Model UN’ers interested in going, on what it meant to him. “The NAIMUN conference is a great opportunity to go Washington DC, our nation's capital, see Georgeown University, and participate in MUN in an amazing environment.”
Central’s Model United Nations, with advisors Mr. Thissell and Ms. Rhinevault, meets on Mondays (MUN-days) during lunch in Mr. Thissell’s classroom each week. For more information, go to their website at https://sites.google.com/central.k12.or.us/mun/home?authuser=0