Model United Nations Team Wins at Oxford University Conference

Eight members of Monmouth University's Model United Nations team recently competed in a tournament at the University of Oxford, UK, a premier stop on the global Model United Nations (MUN) circuit, OxiMUN. The event draws universities from across the UK, continental Europe, Asia, and Australia.

In the tournament, students represent countries on various United Nations (UN) committees and, over three days, use the actual rules of the UN to tackle real challenges facing the international community. MUN helps students develop their public speaking, policy research and writing, and group negotiation skills.

"Our trip to the Oxford University Model United Nations Conference is an amazing opportunity for our students to experience student life at one of the oldest institutions in the world," said Ken Mitchell, Ph.D., professor and chair of the political science department. "Students from across the world travel to Oxford to participate in this event that gives college students the chance to network and debate global affairs."

The Monmouth delegation traveled with Mitchell and was captained by head delegates Warda Chowdhury, junior biology student, and Chris Feliks, senior political science and business student. Junior political science student Kym Davis took home the individual "Delegate" award for her work representing Cote d'Ivoire on the UNESCO committee. Feliks won "Best Position Paper" for representing France on the UN Security Council committee debating the Libyan Crisis, an expert-level committee of the conference's most experienced participants. Chowdhury won "Best Speech" representing Germany on the UN Security Council. Sophomore political science student Sebastian Delgado also won "Best Speech" representing Iran on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification committee.

Rounding out the delegation were senior political science and business student Anthony Tesoriero, who participated on the "Gangland" crisis committee; senior political science student Giavanna Cangialosi, representing Indonesia on the UN Security Council; senior political science major Paris Galgano, who represented Russia on the UN Security Council; and sophomore political science student Lola Salyamov, representing France on the UN's Disarmament and International Security committee.

OxiMUN takes place around the University of Oxford, with different committees hosted by different colleges, such as Christ Church, Exeter, and Pembroke. Opening and closing ceremonies were held in the famous Oxford Student Union Hall, where world leaders-including British prime ministers, U.S. presidents, and sports figures such as Diego Maradona-would debate the Oxford Student Union leaders. OxiMUN also includes a formal black-tie dinner at St Anne's College.

Monmouth's Model UN team's next competition is the National Conference in Washington, DC, where 40 students will travel with Mitchell and compete from Nov. 6 to 8.

Students who traveled to Oxford expressed their thanks to President Patrick Leahy, Ed.D., Interim Dean of the Leon Hess Business School Nancy Uddin, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Life James Pillar, Ed.D., and the Department of Political Science for supporting and making the trip and experience in Oxford possible.

Students interested in joining Monmouth's MUN team should contact Chowdhury or Feliks.