By: Mikayla Boyd, Asst. Opinion Editor
On Wednesday, the Model United Nations Development Organization (MUNDO) at Canisius hosted the 46th Annual High School Conference. For those unfamiliar with the concept of Model UN, it is a simulation of councils and bodies of the United Nations. Students take on the persona and views of the country they are simulating. In our conference specifically, there are six councils: three Contemporary Security Councils, one Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one Human Rights Council and one Historic Security Council. Each council debated two topics. The goal of each council is to work together, despite adverse opinions and compromise to craft resolutions. This year, we hosted 28 schools and almost 500 students.
As the vice president of MUN and one of two CEEP scholars for the club, I have poured months of work into getting ready for this conference. Before coming to the conference, students prepare the positions that they will take on conference day using topic guides. These guides are produced by Canisius CEEP scholars from the club.
The summer before the fall semester, it was uncertain if the conference was even being hosted. I believe this uncertainty was due to the conference’s longtime advisor, Dr. Fajardo-Heyward, leaving Canisius, as well as budget restraints on the small International Relations department. Nevertheless, during the first week of school after a meeting, it was decided that the Model UN Conference was simply too important to not host. With two months until the conference, we were thrown into preparing the event.
At many times, it felt like the challenge would be impossible. Don’t get me wrong, I was ecstatic that it was going to happen – I too think it is an incredibly important event for Canisius, but more importantly, for greater Buffalo high schools. The team I worked with– Dr. Reitsma, Dean Chambers, Rachel Lapinski, Nurul Salam and Tyler Barczkowski– supported each other through the entire process. I cannot express my gratitude to them enough. We tackled country assignments, bus routes, lunch plans and room assignments. These things seem simple, but are complex processes that none of us had ever been responsible for. Thus, they were a challenge. Thankfully, my team was there through it all.
I could not be happier with how the event turned out. As senior staff of the conference, I oversaw the day with the Secretary-General and President of Model UN, Tyler Barczkowski. Twenty-one students from the club (ourselves included) staffed the event, acting as chairs, co-chairs and timekeepers for the councils. It was our largest staff in recent history, and we were able to have one of our e-board members, Ciaran Hall, act as conference photographer.
While running across campus making sure schools were checked in and students were in the correct councils, I found time to talk with some advisors. They told me that they were so glad the conference was hosted this year, highlighting how the lessons that students learn during the day cannot be taught in a classroom.
The future of the conference and the International Relations department lies in uncertainty due to the proposed $15 million dollar budget cuts. This conference continues to show that hosting it draws many local students to pursue Canisius. What other time do we have over 400 high school students from the Western New York area on campus for an academic event, as well as getting the opportunity to see what life after graduation could look like for them?
It is my hope that the success of this conference, despite the odds that were put against us by initial uncertainty, will cement its future. Preserving this academic tradition is one of my highest priorities. Putting this conference on has been one of the most fruitful projects I’ve worked on, and it has given me and so many others the chance to become leaders. This opportunity is one of the manifestations of Canisius being where leaders are made.
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