MCC only community college in upstate N.Y. to attend Model U.N. conference
Six months ago, Kevin Pizarro, 20, didn’t know–or even care to know–the history of Syria and its stance on hot-button topics such as nuclear disarmament. The Model United Nations course this spring at Monroe Community College changed his mind-set and turned him into a voracious learner.
Since then, he’s amassed and absorbed so much information about the Mideast nation that he said he’s “pumped” to play the role of a foreign diplomat later this month at the 2010 National Model United Nations Conference in New York City.
Pizarro and 13 other MCC students will serve as “delegates” of Syria as they defend their stance on a number of current issues and exercise their negotiating skills to resolve world problems during one of two four-day conferences with about 4,000 college students from around the globe participating between March 28 and April 3. Students in the simulated United Nations conferences will be judged on their position papers, knowledge of their assigned country, participation in formal and caucus sessions, and their leadership abilities. MCC is the only community college in upstate New York and among 350 U.S. and international colleges and universities to participate in the event.
For the MCC delegates, the conference is the culmination of a four-credit course that educates students about the workings of the United Nations, expands their worldviews as citizens, and provides hands-on experience as a delegate in a simulated setting, such as preparing resolutions and galvanizing cooperation among delegations to resolve conflicts.
“This class is giving me a lot of tools for life,” said Pizarro, of Greece, who is pursuing a liberal arts and sciences degree and a career in law. “It’s taught me how to read difficult documents, extrapolate information, present my opinions in a diplomatic way and be open to other people’s viewpoints.”
He and his classmate, Clarence Bacon, prepare for the conference together almost daily by perusing hundreds of documents, discussing strategies and drafting a conference report. Their aim is to become so familiar with Syria and its policies that they can deliver well-informed, strong remarks on the spot within the established time limits.
“Through this class and research, I learned a lot about Syria from a global standpoint and how Syrians view Americans,” said Bacon, 36, of Rochester, who is majoring in communication and media arts and aspires to teach at the college level. “This experience can help me in life as far as working with diverse cultures.”
Before assuming their roles as delegates in the conference, the students spend months researching the structure and functions of the United Nations and practically everything about Syria, ranging from its history and culture to its economic climate and positions on domestic and foreign policies. Topics include peace and security, education, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, economic development and globalization.
In the process, students develop leadership and other essential life skills, such as problem solving, critical thinking, writing, team building and public speaking.
“I’ve learned to respect other people’s cultures and embrace that diversity,” said Tiffany Laursen, 25, of Rochester, who is majoring in liberal arts and sciences and aims for a career in social services on a global level. “This experience is priceless. Because I want to work internationally, understanding how the United Nations works will have an impact on my life.”
Four MCC faculty members from different departments and disciplines teach the course, which is offered only during the spring semester and meets one day a week. This year, the team includes two MCC library research assistants and two MCC graduates who have participated in Model U.N. conferences.
“This course trains students to learn experientially and engages them in building the curriculum with us. There’s also conceptual learning because students have to step back and put all of their knowledge into a larger framework for approaching the conference experience,” said Don Beech, one of the instructors. “We’ve often found that after taking this course many students change their majors, think about traveling or studying overseas, or focus on international relief work.”
For more information about the course, contact Shirley Batistta-Provost, Campus Center assistant director, at (585) 292-2544 or e-mail sprovost@monroecc.edu or go to www.monroecc.edu/depts/stucenter/modelun.
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