By Anish Sikhinam – Staff Reporter

The Model U.N. Club is planning a trip from Wednesday, March 6, to Saturday, March 9, to New York to participate in the National High School Model United Nations. Social studies teachers Mr. Evanko and Ms. Burns are the advisors to the Model U.N. Club and Evanko currently teaches the Model U.N. class. Advocate Staff Reporter Anish Sikhinam interviewed Evanko about the club and the upcoming trip.

Anish Sikhinam: Can you give me a quick overview of what Model U.N. Club does?

Mr. Evanko: The Model U.N. Club seeks to help students understand international relations through simulation. Students role play as a delegate of a country debating a specific topic. They debate everything from public health emergencies to climate change to military situations around the world.

AS: How do students prepare for the conference?

ME: Students prepare for the conference by writing two short research papers about their assigned topics. They also practice parliamentary debate and do some general country research on the country they were assigned.

AS: Can you describe the conference and what happens there?

ME: Students are playing the role of a delegate from a country. They are in a committee that ranges anywhere from, at the smallest, about 15 students to, at the largest, about 300 students. They work with other students representing other countries trying to pass a law or resolution at the conclusion of their committee session.

AS: Since class selections are coming up, what is the difference between the Model U.N. class and the Model U.N. Club?

ME: The Model U.N. class does not attend the same conference as the club. They attend other conferences, either in the fall or spring. However, in the class we do a lot of the same skills, so we look at how to debate, what are some current problems around the world, what are the limits of the UN’s power, and how do we try to solve global issues.

AS: Who do you think Model U.N. is for? What type of students would be interested in taking this class?

ME: I would say any student who is interested in challenging themselves in improving their public speaking or research skills, or has an interest in the world would enjoy the class or the club.