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Health & Fitness

Trumbull's Model UN Club Hosts Invitational

Trumbull High’s Model UN Club Hosts an Invitational with Area Schools
 By Mike Zabin THS ‘15 and Brandon Capece THS ‘13

          On May 18, 2013, Trumbull High School’s Model United Nations Team hosted their third annual Model UN Conference at Trumbull High School. A total of 9 different schools attended (Bethel High School, Community Learning Project, Connecticut River Academy, Hampshire Regional High School, Joel Barlow High School, Madison Middle School, Newtown High School, St. Rose Middle School, and Trumbull High School) and over 70 students competed in this full day event.

             With the help of the Trumbull Academic Challenge for Excellence Foundation (ACE), this year’s TMUNI (Trumbull Model United Nations Invitational) was able to include three different committees that delegates participated in. The majority of delegates participated in the Committee on Disarmament and International Security, the intermediate committee while a large number of delegates also competed in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) which was the designed for new delegates that wanted to participate in Model UN in a learning environment. A smaller number of delegates also had the chance to compete in the crisis packed United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

              The UNHRC tackled issue of human rights violations propagated by China with a special concentration on the human rights violations occurring within the region of Tibet. This committee was centralized around teaching delegates the skills they need to move forward in their Model UN career. The committee was chaired by UCONN student and THS graduate Emily Block, Hofstra Student and THS graduate Kathleen Hickey, as well as THS senior Gulrukh Haroon. Under Secretary General Ryan McEniry directed this committee. Winners of awards for the UNHRC were: Best Delegate: Ecuador - Hampshire Regional School; Outstanding Delegate: Jordan - Community Learning Project; and Honorable Mentions: Azerbaijan - Community Learning Project and Romania - Bethel High School.

             DISEC debated the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, often referred to as drones, and whether or not it was acceptable to use them in an international forum as either a combat vehicle or a vehicle for transportation. This committee was chaired by UCONN student and THS graduate Rachel Laffitte, Pennsylvania State University student and THS graduate Jenn Bont, and THS senior Marissa Piccolo. Under Secretary General Michael Zabin directed this committee. Winners of awards in DISEC were: Qatar - Hampshire Regional School; Outstanding Delegate: Norway - Connecticut River Academy; and Honorable Mentions: Australia - Bethel High School and Nigeria - Connecticut River Academy.

                TMUNI was also home to the smaller United Nations Security Council. These delegates debated the ongoing Civil War in Syria as the war developed under the direction of Crisis Director and THS senior Augustine Haam. The various crisis moments required delegates to be able to rapidly shift the flow of debate and solve issues as they would present themselves. The UNSC was chaired by Stony Brook University student and THS graduate Brett Rosen alongside THS senior Chris LoBosco. Director General Jeff Netting was in charge of the UNSC. Winners of awards for the UNSC were: Best Delegate: Iraq - Connecticut River Academy; Outstanding Delegate: United Kingdom - Bethel High School; and Honorable Mention: Azerbaijan - Community Learning Project.

             Although students learned a lot inside of their individual committees, some of the best lessons came during the opening and closing ceremonies. Brandon Capece, Secretary General, reminded delegates that the physical awards given at Model UN are by no means as important as the attributes and skills learned. Furthermore, Trumbull invited Tony Hwang, State Representative, to be the keynote speaker who spoke to the students about how they must use the golden rule in all aspects of their life. He said respect and relationships start inside oneself, yet these attributes will quickly have a larger effect on those around us. Ultimately, he said that following the golden rule will result in global cooperation, following his idea of thinking globally, but acting locally. Jeff Netting closed the conference well in his last speech, where he reiterated to delegates, that we are just people. Netting said that although it may be overwhelming to speak in front of a large committee the first time, one will quickly become more and more comfortable speaking in front of large groups. He said that this was the best gift that Model UN gave him and that he hopes all the delegates will also receive this gift in the future.

           Ms. Boland, Social Studies teacher at Trumbull High School and advisor to the Model United Nations club, said “I am so proud of all my students and how they ran such an organized and educational conference for area middle and high school students. The amount of hard work, dedication, and passion that they bring to our club is contagious.”

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