2008 Woodie Awards
Turlock visits United Nations
By: Danielle Krystof
Issue date: 5/7/08 Section: Campus Life
The room is crammed full of almost 100 people. This sometimes leads to fights with no resolution. It is not a night in the dorms; it is the work of the United Nations, or at least a simulated version of it attended by California State University, Stanislaus students.
The CSU Stanislaus U.N. club attended the 58th annual Model United Nations of the Far West Conference in San Francisco on April 18-22.
"This conference is a really good learning experience for how the U.N. operates," Kerrie Goularte, a member of the Model U.N., said.
During the conference, students had a chance to practice the debating skills necessary to be a member of the United Nations. These students performed tasks in five days that can usually take the U.N. up to five years.
"You dress differently, eat differently; you're like a different person, like you don't exist," Sharona Ovarhim, a member of the Model U.N., said.
The dress during the conference remained Western business attire, which was strictly enforced.
"There is a lot of procedure, protocol," Maysa Odeh, a member of the Model U.N., said.
CSU Stanislaus students picked the country of Iran to represent. Staying in character remains a crucial part of the conference. Students are even addressed by the name of the country they are representing.
"Fit your country and perform with your country," Goularte said.
In preparation for the conference, the Model U.N. class met three times a week. The class consists of seven members and one leader. Responsibilities outside of the class include keeping current in foreign affairs and drafting resolutions.
Making resolutions is the main goal during the conference. All countries must decide on various resolutions pertaining to this year's theme of humanitarian issues like HIV/AIDS, Palestinian refugees, empowering women and access to safe water.
Being a part of the conference teaches students how to "learn to negotiate," Ovarhim said, adding that the Model U.N. promotes character, leadership and diplomacy.
After writing some impressive pre-conference policy papers, the CSU Stanislaus Model U.N. was picked with five other countries to deliver a preliminary speech at the conference. Gregory Pruden addressed the conference as a representative of Iran and immediately bashed Israel and the United States as a way to get right into character.
The CSU Stanislaus Model U.N. also won an award for diplomacy throughout the conference because of its ability to stay in character. CSU Stanislaus Model U.N. won another honored by being asked to chair a committee at the next conference on April 17, 2009.
The CSU students were so successful that "over 20 schools ended up all with Iran," Odeh said.
The members urge other students to participate in this wonderful opportunity.
"The program is expanding next year, and anyone who is interested can contact As'ad Abukhalil in the political science department prior to registration. All majors are welcome," Goularte said.
The CSU Stanislaus U.N. club attended the 58th annual Model United Nations of the Far West Conference in San Francisco on April 18-22.
"This conference is a really good learning experience for how the U.N. operates," Kerrie Goularte, a member of the Model U.N., said.
During the conference, students had a chance to practice the debating skills necessary to be a member of the United Nations. These students performed tasks in five days that can usually take the U.N. up to five years.
"You dress differently, eat differently; you're like a different person, like you don't exist," Sharona Ovarhim, a member of the Model U.N., said.
The dress during the conference remained Western business attire, which was strictly enforced.
"There is a lot of procedure, protocol," Maysa Odeh, a member of the Model U.N., said.
CSU Stanislaus students picked the country of Iran to represent. Staying in character remains a crucial part of the conference. Students are even addressed by the name of the country they are representing.
"Fit your country and perform with your country," Goularte said.
In preparation for the conference, the Model U.N. class met three times a week. The class consists of seven members and one leader. Responsibilities outside of the class include keeping current in foreign affairs and drafting resolutions.
Making resolutions is the main goal during the conference. All countries must decide on various resolutions pertaining to this year's theme of humanitarian issues like HIV/AIDS, Palestinian refugees, empowering women and access to safe water.
Being a part of the conference teaches students how to "learn to negotiate," Ovarhim said, adding that the Model U.N. promotes character, leadership and diplomacy.
After writing some impressive pre-conference policy papers, the CSU Stanislaus Model U.N. was picked with five other countries to deliver a preliminary speech at the conference. Gregory Pruden addressed the conference as a representative of Iran and immediately bashed Israel and the United States as a way to get right into character.
The CSU Stanislaus Model U.N. also won an award for diplomacy throughout the conference because of its ability to stay in character. CSU Stanislaus Model U.N. won another honored by being asked to chair a committee at the next conference on April 17, 2009.
The CSU students were so successful that "over 20 schools ended up all with Iran," Odeh said.
The members urge other students to participate in this wonderful opportunity.
"The program is expanding next year, and anyone who is interested can contact As'ad Abukhalil in the political science department prior to registration. All majors are welcome," Goularte said.
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