Model United Nations

Students in Professor Craig Arceneaux’s Model United Nations
course in fall 2015 simulate the U.N. High Commission
on Refugees.

After an entire quarter of learning about the United Nations, Cal Poly Model United Nations (MUN) students are eager to dive into their winter and summer conferences. This fall, students gained MUN experience in Professor Craig Arceneaux’s class by simulating the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) agency. The topic of discussion was the Syrian refugee crisis and what the UNHCR could do to help alleviate the situation. Throughout the 10 weeks in committee, students passed three resolutions that included immediate humanitarian aid as well as the creation of a United Nations Refugee Protection and Security Force to assist Syrian refugees.

The UC Berkeley (UCBMUN) intercollegiate conference was a success. The 20-person Cal Poly delegation proactively participated in negotiations and was respected among its fellow delegations, which included UCLA, USC, Columbia, University of British Columbia, Chicago University and many others. On every committee, the Cal Poly delegation members were very active and widely recognized by other delegations. 

In addition, this year students will be fortunate enough to travel in August to Brasilia, Brazil, for a weeklong conference held by Americas Model United Nations. Ten Cal Poly students will prepare to test their knowledge, teamwork and persuasive skills on an international level.