News

ULV represents Kazakhstan in MUN conference

Senior political science major Anthony Granillo served on the Committee for Finance and Development representing the Republic of Kazakhstan at the 2002 National Model United Nations Conference. The conference was held at the Grand Hyatt in New York City March 26 to 30. More than 200 countries and non-governmental organizations were represented by more than 2,000 college students from across the globe. ULV sent eight delegates who served on seven committees, including the Conference on Disarmament and the Special Session on HIV/AIDS. Participating students attended opening and closing ceremonies at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in Manhattan. / photo by Jennifer Contreras
Senior political science major Anthony Granillo served on the Committee for Finance and Development representing the Republic of Kazakhstan at the 2002 National Model United Nations Conference. The conference was held at the Grand Hyatt in New York City March 26 to 30. More than 200 countries and non-governmental organizations were represented by more than 2,000 college students from across the globe. ULV sent eight delegates who served on seven committees, including the Conference on Disarmament and the Special Session on HIV/AIDS. Participating students attended opening and closing ceremonies at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in Manhattan. / photo by Jennifer Contreras

by Anna Roy
Editorial Director

Eight University of La Verne students, accompanied by Richard Gelm, chairman of the political science department, traveled to New York during spring break to attend the five-day national Model United Nations conference.

The students, who had spent much of the school year researching the history, economy and culture of the central Asian nation represented that country in the week-long conference, where they were joined by 2,600 other students from around the world.

On March 26, the first day of the conference, participants gathered at the General Assembly of the United Nations building for the opening ceremonies, sitting in the same hall where the world’s diplomats convene.

“Its an impressive building, the architecture of the building suggests equality and unity, it’s a round building and all of the seats are good,” said senior art student Jessica Lord as she and the rest of the ULV delegation waited for the ceremonies to begin.

“It’s a unique and interesting time to be involved with Model United Nations,” said Shashi Tharoor, the Undersecretary for Public Information for the United Nations who was one of the event’s guest speaker. He spoke of the benefits of the conference in bringing together students from all over the world who are interested in the future of world affairs.

Tharoor also spoke about common misconceptions that exist about the UN:

“People have a mistaken impression of what the UN does, one of which that it is simply a place full of talk,” he said. “However, wouldn’t you rather have nations of the world warring here at this podium, with speeches, and have people talking with each other?”

He described the importance of UN resolutions, conferences and research as ways of showing “the state of the world’s thinking, about the problems of the world.”

“This bureaucracy is 25 percent leaner than what it was just 25 years ago, which is in response to budget cuts and trimming. I think its time to put these misconceptions behind us an focus on the very active things that the UN does.”

The United Nations activities are far reaching and include: coordinating the international battle against AIDS, bringing alleged war criminals to trial at tribunals, eliminating preventable diseases like polio from the world, organizing the system of international air traffic, charting the world’s weather patterns and instituting peacekeeping operations worldwide. “This is why the organization has won a total of Nobel Peace Prizes,” Tharoor said.

Not surprisingly, Taroor’s talk included reflections on the events of Sept. 11:

“The attacks were an attack on all of us. It reminds us of our interdependence, that all of us live on the same planet. Problems of the world are those that none of us can ignore,” he said adding that victims of terrorism can be found everywhere and that peacekeeping efforts with communication must be global and ongoing.

“Peace is the responsibility of each and everyone,” he said.

The first evening signaled the beginning for committee sessions, which took place at the Manhattan’s Grand Hyatt, a few blocks from the United Nations.

For these sessions, which ran throughout the week, students took on the role of delegates, of their respective country and Non-Governmental Organizations.

The one-week conference is intended to be a simulation of an actual United Nations meeting, complete with simulation Security Council, NATO and General Assembly meetings on a daily basis.

Throughout the week, students got hands-on experience.

They practiced negotiating with one another during informal caucus sessions, addressing committees with speeches and collaborating on resolutions.

Toward the end of the week, resolutions were voted on, often after heated debate which showed the students firsthand the kind of conflicts faced by world leaders.

The sessions, which often lasted into the night were held at the Grand Hyatt.

“I plan on getting a job at the United Nations, so this is really exciting,” said junior international studies student Victoria Pua, who participated in the General Assembly Third Committee, where globalization’s effect on human rights was the first agenda topic discussed. “Its great seeing other schools participating in an event that is global,” she said.

Many students were first-time participants and knew little about what to expect, but generally after one session, they understand what the conference involved.

“My favorite thing about MUN is that students come from all over: France, Russia, Mongolia, St. Lucia,” said Renee Lee of Hunter College in New York, whose delegation included many international students.

The conference included students from 44 international delegations representing 12 countries, which resulted in some language barriers.

“Were we at a real UN debate, obviously not everyone would speak English and there would be greater cultural diversity,” said Daoud Mikhail, chief of staff for the conference.

ULV junior Jordi Casinos had the opportunity to work behind the scenes at the conference, while Lord, a first time participant, attended a conference on nuclear disarmament.

On Saturday, the final day of the conference, representatives were invited to vote on the resolutions of each individual committee as an entire body.

They sat with their respective nations and voted electronically.

Senior political science student Anthony Granillo, who was also a first time participant was a delegate in the Finance and Development committee. While in New York, he also visited the Kazakhstan’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

“I went there to get more information on our country,” he said.

“I spoke to the assistant for the Ambassador. I learned a lot about their financial situations; it was very informative and helpful even though there was a bit of a language conflict,” he said.

On March 28, each committee was visited by guest speakers, which included prominent human rights workers, ambassadors and professors.

Carina Perelli, who works for the UN Department of Political Affairs in the electoral assistance division spoke to delegates in the General Assembly Plenary committee about election problems that occur in other parts of the world.

“Many times a government is just learning how to be a government, and democracy isn’t high on their list,” Perelli said. ” The United Nations can help a country to have an election, but an election isn’t going to produce a peaceful solution.”

She listed several factors that impede fair and proper elections, which include illiterate populations and an untrained media.

“Oftentimes, the media is just reporting on personalities,” Perelli said, as opposed to issues in the election.

During the conference, the intensifying crisis in the Middle East became evident as the UN Security Council met in its chambers, with MUN delegates in the same building aspiring to do the same.

“I thought it was an extremely valuable experience for the students who participated,” Gelm said.

“If the students have a forum, its going to be an ideal opportunity for them to share their experiences and enlighten the University of La Verne community on international issues and policies, because, in general, Americans are woefully lacking in the knowledge of international affairs.”

“It was also extraordinarily valuable to visit the United Nations itself, the center of where international activity happens,” he said.

Participation was funded by campus organizations and other sources including the Institute for Global Studies, Peace Studies, Student Affairs and Business and Global Studies; John Gingrich, dean of the college of arts and sciences, Richard McDowell, provost, Ahmed Ispahani, professor of economics and the Associated Students Federation.

A presentation will be held at 1:30 p.m. April 15 in the President’s Dining Room.

Anna Roy, Assistant Features Editor
Anna Roy
Other Stories
Jennifer Contreras, Editorial Director
Other Stories
Previous article
Finding true love on spring break
Next article
Tangible silence

Latest Stories

Related articles

Arts, Etc.

Latino Student Forum hosts night of cumbia

The Latino Student Forum hosted a “CumbiaLandia” event May 14 on Citrus Lawn. 
LV Life

CAB does merch spring cleaning

CAB hosted the event to allow anyone an opportunity to grab leftover merchandise from events throughout the school year.
News

Talk considers the Iran war

The International Studies Institute hosted “Iran War: How Did We Get Here?” at noon on April 30.
News

Protesters object to University’s protest policy, lack of transparency

Lordsburg Liberation, a grassroots organization on campus aiming to unify the University through anti-imperialist activism, organized a walk out from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.