Model United Nations start year off with conference

Monica Reida/Staff Writer

Today, the Model United Nations (UN) is wrapping up the second of its two-day fall symposium in Des Moines.

“It’s a mock UN where we discuss different topics in the world as if we were the actual United Nations,” senior Michelle Redinbaugh, a newcomer to Model UN, said.

Every year, the group attends a symposium in the fall and one in the spring.

“During the fall one, everyone represents the United States and discusses topics from the U.S.’s viewpoint. At the spring symposium, we represent other world countries,” said senior Tyler Schaub, who has been doing Model UN for three years.

The meetings are about 30 minutes long and are after school on Thursday.

“A majority of time is spent writing a position paper,” Schaub said.

The faculty sponsor is social studies teacher Andrea Aykens. Students that are interested in participating in Model UN for spring semester should talk to Aykens. She encourages those interested in debate, world cultures and different political issues to join.

“I’m interested in relations between countries, and I think that it’s important for our country,” junior Chelsea Hall said.

The pre-plenary delegates for the symposium are Alp Zora, Kellie Petersen, Jasmine Singh, Sarah Weber, Rachel Grover, Vincent Stigliani, Zach Graham and Daniel Yehieli.