News Release from Tallahassee Community College:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -
Students from Tallahassee Community College’s Model United Nations returned this week from participating in the 2010 National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference, held in New York City.
The students, representing the United Nation’s delegation from Romania, debated in the UN chambers and heard from such speakers as U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice. TCC’s Model UN was given an Honorable Award for their preparation and performance during the conference.
The NMUN, the oldest and largest intercollegiate Model United Nations conference in the world, hosted over 5,500 students from 356 universities, representing 31 countries on four continents. The students convened in New York City for the five-day long simulation of the United Nations and other international organizations.
Model UN Vice President Eric Pate stated, “I was able to interact with university students from around the world, attempting to find solutions to global issues such as the overcrowding of unsustainable urban centers, desertification and deforestation, and the effects of hazardous radioactive wastes on rural areas.”
TCC Model UN member Paul Murphy felt that the conference was phenomenal.
Murphy said, “One of the greatest things about the conference is the last day, where it is held at the United Nations. Model United Nations takes on an entirely new level when you are actually debating at the United Nations. You look around and can only imagine the discussions and decisions that have occurred right around you. The conference further solidifies the tools one can gain from Model United Nations such as public speaking, professional writing skills and simple human-to-human negotiations. NMUN allows students to get past national issues and topics, and go on to an international scale, which often entails one to approach something from an entirely different perspective.”
TCC Model UN member Dana Terry added, “NMUN is truly a great experience. I can honestly say that I’ve learned more about the United Nations and its member states in preparation for this one week than I have in any class. Not only were we expected to speak, debate and write resolutions on the given topics of our committee, but we were expected to do so in collaboration with other students from all over the world.
TCC faculty advisers Dr. Richard Murgo and Dr. Tom Waller have worked with the students throughout the year and accompanied them to New York. A particular high point for the group was the arrival of TCC president Bill Law for the closing ceremonies and award presentations at the United Nations.
TCC’s 2010-11 Model UN conference schedule includes trips to Atlanta, New York and the Czech Republic, as well as hosting a high school conference at the state capitol.
Students interested in participating in TCC’s Model United Nations program should call (850) 201-8145.
