130 high school students participate in Model UN conference at CU-Mansfield

Commonwealth University-Mansfield welcomed 130 students from 10 area high schools to participate in the second High School Model United Nations Conference on Tuesday, Oct. 22. 

Students were assigned countries and topics in advance and conducted research in preparation for the event. Concurrent simulations of the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council were held throughout the day.  

The conference began with an opening ceremony in Straughn Auditorium. Admissions Director, Sean Stout, provided a brief introduction of Commonwealth University before keynote speaker, Dr. Linda Kennedy, associate professor, gave a talk on “The Balkanization of the United Kingdom.” As a person of Scottish heritage, she offered an informative and unique overview of the devolution of power in the UK to its four nations: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  

From there, students moved to their respective simulations, which were run by CU-Mansfield students. Political science major, Dallas Schultz, of Wellsboro, chaired the UN General Assembly simulation with secondary education major, Ryan O’Connor, of Canton, serving as the rapporteur. They were assisted by communications major, Jaydan Montgomery, of Southfield, Michigan.

Fifty two country delegations, represented by more than 100 students, debated the problem of plastics pollution in oceans and rivers and the lack of international regulations on armed drones and killer robots. Resolutions were passed aspiring to ban single-use plastics worldwide, outlaw fully autonomous weapons and place limits on weaponized drones.  

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council, which included 15 delegations, also met to discuss the acceptable use of weaponized drones by countries and to address a mock “crisis” in the South China Sea involving China and the Philippines. The Security Council was led by political science majors, Eli Kaufman, of Nelson, as chair, and Allyson Lewis, of North Monmouth, Maine, as rapporteur.  

Dr. Jonathan C. Rothermel, associate professor of political science, who organized the event with assistance from Mansfield students and colleague, Dr. Jeff Bosworth, was pleased with the turnout. “This event offers local high school students an engaging opportunity to work collaboratively with diverse perspectives to build consensus around common problems,” Rothermel said. 

Bryce Bitner, a social studies teacher at Wellsboro High School, accompanied 20 of his students to the conference. He said his students loved the experience, especially the interaction with students from other schools. “My students gained a better understanding of the complexity of international negotiations and the importance of being cognizant of other countries’ viewpoints,” Bitner said, who was impressed with the organization of the conference and plans to return next year.    

Awards were presented to the top delegations: 

• Best Delegation Award at the UN General Assembly – United Kingdom, Trevor King and Quinn Kane (Horseheads High School)

• First Runner Up – Canada, Luke Rothermel and Liam Elkin (Wellsboro High School)

• Second Runner Up – Israel, Roland Smith and Nicholas Cotton (Troy High School)

• Third Runner Up – The Netherlands, Alex Lantz and Allison Edsell (Towanda High School)

• Best Delegation at the UN Security Council – Ecuador, Karter Campbell and Jude Cuneo (Wellsboro High School)

• Runner Up – France, Brooke Romig and Kelsey Denico (Sayre High School)

• Best Position Paper: China, Morgan Hickey and Kate Riley (Sayre High School)

• Best Position Paper (Honorable Mention): France, Brooke Romig and Kelsey Denico (Sayre High School)

• Best Position Paper (Honorable Mention): Mozambique, Sophia Hyatt and Logan Richman (Sayre High School)

The following high schools participated in the conference: Addison, Cowanesque Valley, Horseheads, New Covenant Academy, North Penn-Liberty, North Penn-Mansfield, Sayre, Towanda, Troy and Wellsboro.