On October 25, 2024, Old Dominion’s Model UN club hosted its seventh annual UN Day, held to commemorate the 1945 formation of the United Nations. Schools from across Norfolk attended, including Regent University, Norfolk State, Hampton University, and Tidewater Community College. Each attendee was assigned a country to act as the delegate of, where they were expected to debate key issues from the perspective of their particular country.
The day started with a vote to determine what the first topic of discussion would be. Two choices were given: the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts and addressing the needs of children in conflict, with the latter being chosen.
Discussions were dynamic and fast paced, with most delegates only allotted 30 seconds to speak. The delegates were passionate on their topics, and often used humor to help communicate their points more effectively. While it helped break the ice at first, it soon became unnecessary. Those attending UN Day, especially from other schools, expected an air of formality to the event. The consistent jokes and the event not being taken seriously downplayed the importance of the topics greatly as well as cut into valuable time.
Brian Vernon, the Undersecretary General for the Model United Nations Society, stated in an interview that careful and deliberate preparation took place before this event, needing about a month and a half to prepare. He states that this particular forum is in a more introductory style, allowing for those who are not familiar with MUN to “dip their foot in the water.”
Myles Perry, the president of ODU’s Model UN, encourages those interested in the club to join. While being a part of MUN, he has gained skills such as public speaking and improvisation.
The awards given included:
Best delegate– Stephen Shields (Chile), Hampton University
Outstanding delegate– Zia Yandoc (Russian Federation), Old Dominion University
Verbal commendation– Adam Mouak (Morocco), Tidewater Community College; Chance Stelzig (Bangladesh), Old Dominion University; Brayden Beall (Canada), Old Dominion University
Honorable mention– Oliver Sedwick (Australia), Old Dominion University; Delenn Main (Switzerland), Old Dominion University; Shalaina Rice (Haiti), Hampton University
By the end of the session, students were left with a greater understanding of conflicts happening around them and a heightened sense of community after spending the day with like-minded individuals. The skills that students can gain from events such as this are incredibly valuable in today’s world. Model UN teachest students not only how to debate, but also how to defend their viewpoints and become more knowledgeable about today’s world.
