University Communications and Marketing

MSUB to host Model United Nations summit for area high schools

Event takes place on the University Campus on May 8

Contacts:

Nisha Bellinger, Assistant Professor of Political Science, 657-2933

University Relations, 657-2266

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Diplomacy and international relations will be front and center when Montana State University Billings once again hosts the Model United Nations on May 8.

The event will bring over half a dozen high schools and some 120 high school students, who will take part in mock UN General Assembly and Security Council conferences.

Restructuring the Security Council is one area of focus, while student delegates in the General Assembly of the United Nations will be discussing climate change.

The summit is being sponsored by the MSUB Political Science department. Students are helping facilitate the event and have been engaged in staying up to date on global events to do so.

“We are hosting the event because we want to give a platform to schools all over MT and beyond to come together and discuss issues of global concern and seek policy resolutions to those issues,” said Nisha Bellinger, assistant professor of political science.

This is the first time Amanda Merfeld, 31, a public relations and political science major has helped facilitate Model United Nations.

“Hopefully, students participating in this event will walk away with a more complete worldview,” Merfeld said.

Political Science Major Hannah Hanser is assisting for the second year and will be the Vice Chair of the General Assembly.

“For myself I would like to get a little more experience in leading a meeting and presentation,” the Colstrip native said. “If there is one thing that I would like to see the visiting high-school students take away from this, it would be for them to have a greater understanding of what makes global issues complex, and oftentimes contentious. This can be an invaluable experience and opportunity for the kids in rural Montana and open a whole new world of potential careers in their minds.”

Part of Kendra Smith’s role in the conference will be helping in Security Council.

The 21-year-old elementary and special education major has never participated in an event like this before but said it will likely help her in the future.

“I will be walking around and assisting the student groups. I will listen in on the groups' conversations and make sure their policies align with the current administrations' positions,” Smith said.

In addition to engaging in debate and drafting resolutions, high school students visiting MSUB will get to tour the campus.