While many students talk about their days during lunch, some speak of the lack of civil liberties students in third world countries experience on a daily basis. These discussions are held by students attending Carlmont’s Model United Nations club.
Model United Nations, or Model UN for short, is a club founded by Alex Derhacobian, a junior, in fall 2016.
“Model UN strives to provide a non-biased and accepting place of discussion regarding international relations,” said Derhacobian. “Through this dialogue, we can become more informed and capable global citizens.”
Model UN members meet once a week to discuss current events. Some of the latest topics include the tension between Israel and Palestine, the Kurdish dilemma in Syria, and America and North Korea relations.
“I think Model UN provides a great opportunity for politically aware students to converse and negotiate with other students that share similar interests,” said Sam Hosmer, a junior and the vice president of the club. “No other club offers structured debates of international issues as a part of a global simulation.”
The United Nations (UN), located in Geneva, Switzerland with outposts in major cities around the world, makes many large-scale decisions regarding well being of modern society. As of today, the UN has 193 member states, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Russia, according to United Nations Security Council website. These states often convene to agree on resolutions that benefit struggling countries, resolve tensions between countries, and station troops to combat terrorism and insurgent movements in the world.
“Model UN teaches students many valuable skills, like public speaking, negotiation, argumentation, and diplomacy.”
— Alex Derhacobian
Carlmont’s Model UN club discusses these issues as well.
“Our club involves discussion of relevant international issues and policy solutions, as well as discourse about current events. It is a way to get your hands dirty and tackle the issues from a new perspective of analysis,” said Hosmer.
Many students enter Model UN without any prior knowledge about diplomacy or what the UN does. However, the club welcomes all students, regardless of their experience.
“Model UN teaches students many valuable skills including public speaking, negotiation, argumentation, and diplomacy. It also allows students to become more informed about the world we live in,” said Derhacobian.
In Derhacobian’s eyes, the club is an entry-level course to understanding what the UN is and what it does. The club meets on Mondays in room E1.
