2013-2014
Fourteen Baylor students participate in AMUN Conference
November 2013
14 Baylor University students traveled to Chicago to participate in the American Model United Nations Conference, which brings together more than 1,000 college students to participate in a simulation of the United Nations. These 14 students competed in a field of more than 30 Baylor students to earn a spot on this semester's traveling team.
As Baylor MUN Head Delegate, Tyler Kopas (Senior, Professional Selling) noted, "This was the first collegiate national MUN conference for 9 of the 14 students participating, making this a very 'young' team, but this means in the spring we will have up to 14 returning veteran conference participants who will have experience negotiating, speaking, and writing at a large MUN conference."
Tiffany Clark (Master's Student in International Relations), has participated in five collegiate MUN conferences as an undergraduate and a now a graduate student at Baylor, and she echoed Tyler's enthusiasm about this year's team. She noted, "Baylor is a smaller team compared to some of the other schools represented at AMUN, but we worked hard to be leaders in all committees. I cannot wait to see the work that is accomplished in New York at NMUN in the spring."
One of the first-time participants, Sikiru Alagbada (Senior, Economics) represented Baylor in the General Assembly Second Committee, said of the experience: "Preparing for the conference helped me hone my researching skills, while caucusing and giving speeches at the actual conference helped sharpen my negotiation and public speaking skills. It was a great experience and I thank Baylor for the opportunity."
In keeping with our team's tradition of seeking to represent a new nation each semester to maximize the learning experience, at the conference, our students participated in the simulation as Kyrgyzstan. In this role, the students discussed issues such as: counter-terrorism strategies, eliminating malaria, managing conventional weapons stockpiles, promoting science and technology for development, eliminating torture, promoting children's rights, and considering the effects of atomic radiation. For a full list of conference topics, visit this website: https://www.amun.org/.
While the learning experience is always the most important part of these conferences and bringing home awards is not what AMUN emphasizes or what our team emphasizes, we are proud to recognize two students’ individual accomplishments at conference. Tyler Kopas (Senior, Professional Selling and Baylor MUN Head Delegate) was recognized as Outstanding Delegate by his committee, which is the highest award that an individual student can be given at this conference. For the second year in a row the students participating in the simulation of the International Court of Justice elected Tiffany Clark (Master's Student in International Relations) to serve as their President, which required she guide the group through their deliberations as they crafted opinions in their three cases. When asked about the experience, she said this "was one of my best conference experiences during my time with Baylor Model UN. I was honored to be elected President of the International Court of Justice simulation and even more honored to work with committee members who were incredibly bright and had researched the cases very thoroughly. We considered three cases, ranging from resource management and territory claims to the legality of Kosovo's claim for independence from Serbia. Debate over these cases was extensive, and I really appreciated the fact that my fellow justices were not afraid to critique each other's arguments and even be willing to dissent from the majority opinion. It made the entire experience much more realistic."
In the Spring, Baylor MUN will travel to two conferences, the Second Annual Howard Paine University Security Council Simulation (nations TBA) and the National Model United Nations Conference, where we will represent Belize.
Front Row (left to right): Tiffany Clark (MA in IR), Mary Margaret Hambuchen (Junior - Journalism), Ruth Anne Holiday (Junior - International Studies), Renie Saenz (Sophomore - History), Julie James (Senior - International Studies), Hanna Mullikin (Junior - International Studies); Back Row (L to R): Eric Vining (Freshman - Political Science), Marc Webb (Freshman - International Studies), Tyler Kopas (Senior - Baylor Model United Nations Head Delegate - Professional Sales Major), Emily Brizzolara-Dove (Junior - International Studies), Matt Demond (Junior - Economics), Shehan Jeyarajah (Sophomore - Political Science), Sikiru Alagbada (Senior - Economics), Anthony Severin (Junior - Political Science)
Model UN team shines at Howard Payne Conference
March 2014
11 Baylor students took part in a Model United Nations Security Council simulation at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. The team represented Baylor very well and earned top awards.
At the conference, there were two Security Council simulations. The first was a Contemporary Security Council discussing nuclear non-proliferation and sanctions in Iran, with Baylor students representing the nations of Australia, China and South Korea.
The second Security Council simulation was a Historical Security Council discussing events surrounding international intervention in Vietnam in 1964, with Baylor students representing China and Norway.
While the learning experience is always the most important part of these conferences, it is an honor for Baylor students to be recognized for their excellent performance. They claimed the top awards in every division.
Special recognition goes to Rebekah Stryker and Ryan Gerlach (both seniors in political science), who represented the Republic of Korea and won Best Delegation and Best Policy Memo in the Contemporary Security Council.
Other special recognition goes to Caleb Gunnels (junior, political science) and Eric Vining (freshman, political science), who represented China and earned Best Delegation and Best Policy Memo awards in the Historical Security Council.
Meanwhile, Laura Beth Hooper (Baylor MUN assistant head delegate and a junior in international studies) served as co-chair for the Contemporary Simulation.
Top Row (left to right): Laura Beth Hooper (Baylor MUN Assistant Head Delegate, Junior - International Studies), Kate Farley (Freshman - University Scholars), Lola Akere (Sophomore - Political Science), Rebekah Stryker (Senior - Political Science), Caleb Gunnels (Junior - Political Science ), Eric Vining (Freshman - Political Science); Bottom Row (left to right): Caroline Caywood (Freshman - International Studies), Abigail Wilson (Junior - International Studies), Jessica Abbey (Junior - Journalism), Seti Tesefay (Junior - International Studies), Ryan Gerlach (Senior - Political Science )
The 11 students who attended the conference represented Baylor in an exemplary manner. It is especially noteworthy that for 9 of the 11 students, this was their first collegiate Model United Nations conference. In mid-April, 16 Baylor students will travel to New York City for the National Model United Nations conference, where they will represent Belize.
Thanks to the University for its support of this program, which advances common goals under the Pro Futuris vision by educating students for informed engagement through transformational learning experiences.
Baylor Traveling Team Excels at 2014 National MUN Conference
April 2014
On April 12-18, Sixteen Baylor University students traveled to New York to participate in the National Model United Nations Conference. Baylor represented Belize at the conference, and students researched and discussed issues such as: chemical weapons, agriculture development and food security, green transportation, sustainable production of biofuels, and violence against women. The team roster and photo taken at the United Nations General Assembly Hall is below. While the learning experience is always the most important part of these conferences and awards are not the emphasis of the conference or our team, the entire team was recognized as a Distinguished Delegation. Only a small percentage of delegations receive any recognition as an Outstanding, Distinguished or Honorable Mention Delegation at this conference, so this is a noteworthy achievement. In addition to the team recognition, two of the position papers submitted to the conference were named Outstanding Position Paper for the General Assembly Second Committee and the General Assembly Third Committee. The full list of the award-winning authors can be found below; it includes some students who did not travel to New York but whose research contributions were important to the team award.
Top Row (left to right): Ben Betner (Senior, Political Science), Paul Schlaudraff (Senior, Baylor Business Fellows/Accounting), Tyler Kopas (Senior, Baylor Model United Nations Head Delegate, Professional Sales Major), Laura Beth Hooper (Junior, Baylor Model United Nations Assistant Head Delegate, International Studies), Emily Brizzolara-Dove (Junior, International Studies), Rebekah Stryker (Senior - Political Science), Tiffany Clark (MA in IR), Sikiru Alagbada (Senior, Economics), Marc Webb (Freshman, International Studies), Caleb Gunnels (Junior - Political Science); Bottom Row (left to right): Ruth Anne Holiday (Junior, International Studies), Taylor Marie Hanson (Senior, Political Science), Jessica Abbey (Junior, Journalism), Mary Margaret Hambuchen (Junior, Journalism), Renie Saenz (Sophomore, History), Ren Young (Senior, Political Science)
Award Winning Position Paper Authors
General Assembly Second Committee
SK Alagbada (Senior, Economics)
Matt DeMond (Senior, Economics)
Michael Saporito (Senior, Political Science)
Seti Tesefay (Junior, International Studies)
Ren Young (Senior, Political Science
General Assembly Third Committee
Lola Akere (Sophomore, Political Science)
Taylor Marie Hanson (Senior, Political Science)
Caitlin Prud'homme (Senior, Political Science)
Kristin Roland (Senior, Political Science)
Marc Webb (Freshman, International Studies)