Interested in foreign policy? Want to hone your public speaking skills? Want to make friends on campus? The Model UN club may be for you. Recently, I interviewed Dr. David Fistein to learn more about the Model UN club.
Model UN: What Is It?
Model UN is a club at Gulf Coast State College that simulates a United Nations delegation. As Fistein explains, “Students step into the shoes of ambassadors from different countries, and they have to play the role as realistically as possible while having fun at the same time.” Club members spend the semester preparing to compete at the Southern Regional Modern United Nations conference (SRMUN). Students roleplay as UN delegates and work together to write position papers on certain international relations issues within the country they represent.
Gulf Coast’s Model UN program is offered as a class in the fall and as a club in the spring. The only difference between the two is that students’ work is graded in the Model UN class. Fistein encourages that students take Model UN as both a class and a club to get the full experience. Gulf Coast’s Model UN is a highly respected program, and Dr. Fistein believes in the educational opportunity it offers to students.
Model UN in Spring 2021
This semester, Gulf Coast State College and FSU PC are hosting a joint Model UN team which will represent Bulgaria at the virtual SRMUN conference on March 26 – 28. The club meets virtually every week to prepare for SRMUN and plans to resume in-person meetings next semester. Typically, members form teams of two to write position papers on a specific issue within their country. They discuss their research, diplomacy issues in their country, and UN parliamentary procedure. Fistein says that meetings are usually informal and unstructured. “If you came into our class on a random day and we don’t have a goal, you would find a bunch of people having a good time,” he states.
SRMUN: A Chance to Travel and Grow
The SRMUN conferences are intense but rewarding. The SRMUN conferences last for three days; the conferences are usually held in Atlanta in the fall and in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the spring. “Students are constantly doing something,” Fistein mentions. At SRMUN, students negotiate with other students who represent different countries on national policy issues. They meet formally and informally to write resolutions together. SRMUN lets students meet a wide variety of peers with diverse views. SRMUN can sharpen students’ negotiation skills, gives them confidence, and is a great networking opportunity.
Is Model UN for Me?
Although Model UN may seem intimidating, Fistein assures me that students enjoy the work. “If you think you’re interested, don’t be afraid to join,” he recommends. Also, some students may believe that they have to be knowledgeable about politics to join, but Fistein disagrees. “Diplomacy is different from politics, the two are marginally related,” he says. One unique perk of joining the club is learning what it’s like to live in a different country, Fistein includes. Model UN also offers students an excellent opportunity to form lasting friendships. Fistein notes that the club members are usually tight-knit and stay in touch after the semester ends. Overall, Model UN helps students build their public speaking and teamwork skills in a supportive environment.
Think Model UN might be a good fit? Contact Dr. Fistein at dfistein@gulfcoast.edu to get more information or request to join. Sign up for the Model UN fall class by registering for Interdisciplinary Social Sciences (ISS2930) once Fall 2021 registration is available. Find more information about the Model UN club on its official Facebook page and learn more about SRMUN on its official website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Faith Dorr
Student Author - Spring 2021
Sarah Faith Dorr is an English major at Gulf Coast State College who aspires to be a professional writer. Her mission as a student is to develop her writing skills while serving others. In addition to writing for Commodore Waves, she is a student tutor at Gulf Coast’s Writing and Reading lab. Her hobbies include reading classic literature (C.S. Lewis and Shakespeare are some of her favorites) and writing the occasional short story or poem. She also loves keeping up with the latest Disney movies — Star Wars and Marvel included.
