Southern Regional Model United Nations

Using funds from an International Programs Center Kohler Award, seven UNCG students attended the virtual Southern Regional Model United Nations (SRMUN) spring conference in March 2021. This experience was the culmination of PSC 250, a course taught annually by Dr. Michael Broache, that introduces the structure and politics of the United Nations and prepares students to represent a UN Member State at the SRMUN conference.

The UNCG delegation—Matthew Armistead, Jordyn Cooper, Lyra Devane, Meet Doshi, Mohammed Khalafalla, Ashton Ramsammy, and Janasi Rawlings—represented the Kingdom of Denmark on four committees: the General Assembly Plenary, General Assembly Fourth (Special Political) Committee, World Food Program, and NATO.

On each committee, UNCG students collaborated with students representing other UN Member States from institutions around the United States to negotiate resolutions and reports addressing pressing global issues, including sustainable development, cybersecurity, and emergency preparedness, among others. In preparing for their committee roles, students developed substantive expertise about their assigned issues and learned about Denmark’s specific interests relevant to these issues. At the conference, students represented these interests while practicing their negotiation and public speaking skills and working to reach compromise solutions acceptable to the representatives of all delegations.

The UNCG delegation’s hard work both before and during the conference was reflected in the FOUR awards that they earned: Outstanding Delegation Position Paper (overall), Honorable Delegation (overall), Outstanding General Assembly Fourth Committee Position Paper, and General Assembly Plenary Best Committee Delegate. This marked the third consecutive year in which UNCG delegates earned awards at the SRMUN spring conference, and students in PSC 250 will be attending the 2022 conference in Charlotte next spring!