Model U.N. in St. Louis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2008

Dr. Paul Teverow
(417) 625-3114
teverow-p@mssu.edu

 

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - The Model UN Club of Missouri Southern State University attended the Midwest Model United Nations in St. Louis, Feb. 13-16, where it represented two nations, Chad and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea -DPRK (North Korea).

 

Following information lists issues considered and the students who sat in the respective committees during this year’s conference. In addition, Jeff Erman, senior English major from Joplin, serving on the International Press Delegation, wrote articles for the conference newspaper MMUN World News & Report from the perspective of China’s Xinhua News Agency.

 

Rebecca Elo, senior International Studies major from Joplin, a participant in all of MSSU’s Model UN delegations since 2004, served on the MMUN staff at this conference, as Legal Counsel for the General Assembly First Committee.

 

Prior to the conference, the students researched important global issues and prepared positions reflective of the foreign policy of their respective countries. During the conference, they worked with approximately 500 students, representing 95 other UN member states, from colleges and universities throughout the nation to find solutions to the topics on the conference agenda. For more information about the conference, see http://mmun.org/.

 

Wolfgang Drautz, Consul General of the German Consulate in Chicago, delivered the keynote address. Drautz formerly served as Germany’s representative to NATO. As Drautz noted, although the United Nations began as a World War II alliance against Japan and Germany, these two countries are now the 2nd and 3rd largest contributors to the UN budget. Germany is also among the largest contributors to UN peace-keeping forces. Ironically, it was only in 1995 that the UN Charter was changed to remove references to Japan and Germany as “enemy” countries.

 

Dr. Paul Teverow, professor of History and Dr. William Kumbier, professor of English, who co-sponsor the Club, accompanied the delegation. Along with faculty sponsors from other universities, they attended sessions on study abroad programs and on best practices for preparing students for Model UN conferences.

 

A 4-5 page discussion and bibliography for each topic are available at http://www.mmun.org/committees.php.

Participants --All from Missouri unless otherwise indicated:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
First Committee
Jessica Reyelts , Senior Art major from Mt. Vernon, (DPRK head delegate)
Devon Nixon, Freshman political science major from Lebanon, (Chad)

 

A. Establishment of a nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East
B. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction

 

Second Committee
Hugo Chavez, Senior Undeclared major from Joplin, (DPRK)
A. The external debt crisis and development
B. Implementation of MDG #8: Developing a global partnership for Development

Third Committee

Caitlan Bermel, freshman Spanish major from Pleasant Hill, DPRK
Jill E. Harris, sophomore Biology Major from Jackson

A. Enhancing the Progress of the United Nations Literacy Decade: Education for All
B. International drug control

Fourth Committee

Jamy Spry, senior International Studies major from Diamond (DPRK)
Megan B. Davis, freshman International Studies major from Neosho (Chad head delegate)

A. Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects
B. The Situation in Afghanistan

 

ECOSOC Plenary
(Chad only)
Micah McCartney, sophomore French major from Siloam Springs, Ark.

A. Information and Communication Technologies and Development
B. Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
C. Promoting access to freshwater

 

 

 

 

 

 

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