What do you get when you mix the debate team with current events club? Model UN.

   The Model UN club has been preparing for a massive conference in Chicago.

   “The University of Chicago hosts this conference and they emphasize making it as authentic and educational as possible,” sponsor Ellen Meade said. “Though it may just sound like a fun trip to Chicago, our MUN delegates will spend around 20 hours in committee sessions over the weekend.”

   As it turns out, conferences are not unlike debate tournaments.

   “It’s all the delegates standing around and we have a country that we represent. Then we’re going to debate world interests,” freshman Carly Mantia said.  “Mine are outer space and peace keepers.”

   Model UN itself dates back to when it was still called the League of Nations in the 1920’s. It did not become the United Nations until 1945. It’s an educational simulation to put students in the shoes of different countries. Participants, called delegates, discuss international relations while representing a particular country.

   During every conference the Model UN team represents a country.

   “I personally enjoy the fact that we are the nation of Botswana,” senior Paul Ambrose said.

   The Republic of Botswana is an African country with about two million people. It used to be known as the Bechuanaland Protectorate until it claimed independency from Great Britain in 1966. Since then, it has been a representative democracy. Being a lesser- known country, it will be interesting to see how the team competes against superpowers like China and the United States.

   In addition to the Chicago trip, another conference will be held in St. Louis in the spring. Model UN raised money this year by selling chocolate bars, but a lot of the budget comes out of their pockets.

   “I’ve only been to one tournament,” Ambrose said. “I was Malaysia and I ended up winning actually.”

   While members have to put in a lot of work, they also make a lot of memories.

   “I like to participate in the conferences. You get to learn a lot and you get to meet a lot of different of people. I’ve learned a lot that I might not have ever learned through UN,” junior Jacklyn Drewry said. “My favorite memory is when we went to St. Louis for the Washington University trip.”

   “I think the best part about Model UN is working with my friends because it’s a lot of group-based activities,” sophomore Connor Wilcox said. “Either you do it with your friends or you get to meet new people.”

   Model UN is a great opportunity for students to learn about the world and get more involved in politics. It’s always accepting new members, but if you join now you would not be able to attend the Chicago conference.

   “August and February are good times to join,” Meade said. “In the fall, the delegates compete to be selected for our Chicago trip. In the spring the delegates compete to be selected for the St. Louis trip.”

   Students can join by either emailing Meade at [email protected], stopping by room 905 or just by showing up to after school meetings.