Model U.N. to reconvene after four years' absence

The Mizzou Model U.N. will be active for the first time since 2003.

By Anna Koeppel

Published Oct. 26, 2007

After four years of inactivity, the Mizzou Model United Nations has rejoined the stage of acting out world politics.

The club last met in 2003, and when freshman Alexander Popp realized the club was no longer active, he decided to restart it. Popp serves as the president of the club.

The group met last night for pizza and politics.

About 10 people attended, and members had an informal discussion of the U.N.'s role in conflict in Myanmar, formerly Burma.

The club members also discussed the group's budget and possible fundraisers, including a poker tournament and corporate sponsorship.

The club, which has been meeting for about three weeks, recently received approval from MU's Organization Resource Group.

The group will spend meetings preparing for Model U.N. conventions, Secretary Cory Voelker said.

Preparation for conventions includes learning about global politics, she said.

"We'll research our country and try to figure out, or create, its positions," Voelker said.

Each Model U.N. chapter will represent a country at conventions.

The MU chapter selected Thailand as its first choice.

Members of the MU chapter will go to the Chicago Model U.N. conference in March and the Midwest Model U.N. conference, held in St. Louis, in February.

"This is going to be a weird year," Model U.N. Vice President David Willis said.

Willis said clubs usually attend conferences in the fall and the spring.

"We're going to have a lot of time to prepare for St. Louis, which is good, because a lot of people haven't done it before," Willis said.

Before the conference, members will identify political allies of the country they represent, determine its economic policies and write position papers on their country's views.

Members will also write sample resolutions to practice for conferences, Voelker said.

In addition to research, members will learn parliamentary procedure through simulations.

The club will hold a simulation next Thursday on the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Willis said all members will practice giving speeches.

"Model U.N. builds life skills like interpersonal communication," Willis said. "You're talking to a room of 150-200 people, and you want to convince them what you're saying is what they need to do."

Voelker said Model U.N. clubs help members develop other skills.

"It teaches you a lot about how to research and write," she said. "It's really challenging. I like the challenge."

Willis said he would like to "get the club up off the ground and win a couple of awards" at conferences and for the MU chapter to build a reputation as a strong chapter among other

Model U.N. chapters at conferences.

Voelker said she would like for the club to build up a reputation at MU as a fun and interesting club.

The Model U.N. club can be social, not just academic, she said.

"It's a good time," Willis said. "I've made a lot of friends through Model U.N."

Graduate student Chebem Chukwu brings a global perspective to the club.

Born in Nigeria, he has since lived in England, Australia, the Pacific Islands and Brunei, which is surrounded by Malaysia.

"I think it helps me in knowing other people's points of view," Chukwu said. "I lived in a Muslim country,

so I can understand how Muslims feel about the West. I can understand China, because Malaysia has a large Chinese population."

Chukwu said his father worked for the U.N. in the past.

The Mizzou Model U.N. Club will meet at 7 p.m. next Thursday in room 209 of Strickland Hall.