The Model United Nations team at Mississippi State University attended the Southern Regional Model United Nations (SRMUN) conference, earning two impressive awards.
MSU’s Model UN team represented the country of Senegal, and the Senegalese delegation received a conference-wide award for its outstanding position papers. Members had to research and write papers on topics pertaining to Senegal before the conference began. SRMUN occurred this year from Nov. 15 to Nov. 17 in Atlanta. 
One of the delegates, Tyler Daniel, earned an Outstanding Delegation award for his service as Committee Chairman and Rapporteur for the UN Environment Programme committee, which included over 50 college delegates.
Daniel, a political science major, has a long history with Model UN, but SRMUN was his first time competing in college.
After joining his high school team at Clinton High School in Mississippi, Daniel’s commitment to the club has only grown. He now serves as the co-secretary general for the SRMUN chapter at MSU.
Daniel distinctly remembers the kind words of his committee director, Mike Engelhardt, after accepting the award.
“He thanked me for my insights and reports to the committee, which were invaluable,” Daniel said.
Model UN is offered as an extra-curricular activity for all MSU students. It is dedicated to role-playing as delegates from UN Member States represented across the world. Participants work in committees in conferences throughout the U.S.
These conferences often look like youth legislature conferences, except student delegates do not represent congressmen or congresswomen. During conferences, committees debate preassigned issues, while delegates collaborate through unmoderated caucuses to write joint resolutions.
The overall goal of Model UN conferences is to accurately represent a Member State, and collaborate and compromise with other delegations.
MSU’s Model UN team prepares for conferences far in advance. First, the delegates must thoroughly research their assigned Member State and its current, relevant issues. Each two-person delegation then writes a two-page position paper, including the State’s history and their proposed solutions.
Students learn much about UN parliamentary procedure through studying the important policies, committees and role in international diplomacy and security.
Model UN Co-Secretary General Marisa Laudadio, a senior political science major, said she believes joining the team will have many lasting benefits for students. She said students can get involved in MSU’s Model UN program by enrolling in MMSC International I, or PS 1321, on myCourses.
“In this class, they will be thoroughly prepared to compete at conferences and will learn a great deal about how the UN works,” Laudadio said.
Participating in collegiate Model UN offers students the opportunity to study global issues from an outside perspective, become aware of international affairs, learn parliamentary procedure and understand the large role the United Nations plays in international diplomacy.
This year, MSU Model UN participants met with the Senegalese Consulate General and the Developmental Diplomat in Residence for USAID. During their conversation with students, both figures handed out their business cards and offered to speak at MSU someday. This connection would may not have been possible without MSU’s own Model UN team.
Vasabjit Banerjee, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, said he has greatly enjoyed his time as one of Model UN’s advisors.
“The Political Science and Public Administration Department offers various courses in international relations and comparative politics, and the Model UN is a great way for majors and interested non-majors to acquire experience in diplomatic negotiations centered on important current events,” Banerjee said.
The team also helps host MSU’s Mississippi Model Security Council (MMSC) conference for high school students every spring semester. College students preside over Security Council sessions, and help facilitate constructive discourse in the committee regarding international security threats and ways to resolve these issues. They also challenge the high school students’ understanding of UN parliamentary procedure to help them better learn how the UN operates.