UNK STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN MODEL UNITED NATIONS

Dr. William Aviles, UNK Department of Political Science, 308-865-8776

Eight students from the University of Nebraska at Kearney stepped into the roles of foreign diplomats from the Netherlands recently during the Midwest Model United Nations Conference in St. Louis.
Model United Nations allows students to simulate the activities of real UN diplomats and ambassadors. Students apply for participation in the conference and upon registration, choose a country to represent. Through participation, students are able to gain a better understanding of the UN, other countries and diplomatic positions.
Colleges from across the country attended the conference and debated various world issues, such as the state of Israeli and Palestinian relations; Iran’s nuclear and energy crisis; the conflict in Sudan and Darfur; and world population control.
The UNK team met for months before the conference on a weekly basis to study the Netherlands, fundraise and discuss the issues they would present. Dr. William Aviles, associate professor of political science, sponsors the group.
“There are political lessons in Model United Nations,” said Dr. Aviles. “The objective is to seek ways of building a consensus on particular issues.”
The student participants are listed below by hometown, state and country:

Aurora- Matt Athey
Grand Island- Nate Janulewicz
Grand Island- Mary Wohlgemuth
Kearney- Daneil Hunt
Lincoln- Jennifer Robinson
Wahoo- Karla Bertelsen

Florida-
West Palm Beach- Lacey Thornsburry

Bahamas-
Nassau- Ryan Bastian