Students Attend Model United Nations Conference

WATERBURY — delegation of students from Chase Collegiate School participated in the 2007 North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN) Conference, one of the oldest UN simulation conferences for high school students in North America. Since 1963, the conference has been a forum in which students come from around the world to seek, through discussion, negotiation and debate, solutions to the various problems of the world.

The 2,500 delegates convene for four days, simulating their role as delegates to the United Nations from a particular nation and serving as representatives of that country’s policies. NAIMUN runs more than 30 mini-simulations, including standard committees from the UN General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council, as well as crisis simulations of various regional organizations, national cabinets, and political organizations.

The conference is organized by the Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc, a nonprofit organization that seeks to introduce potential leaders to the fundamentals of international relations, enabling them to face the challenges of tomorrow. In NAIMUN’s stimulating learning environment, delegates are challenged to address global issues and conflicts. Students are pushed to heighten their understanding of the international system from both political and legal perspectives, while also testing their negotiation, judgment, and problem-solving skills.

The conference and the corporation are staffed and managed by more than 200 undergraduate students from Georgetown University with keen interest and substantial understanding of international relations.

Chase students represented Cuba in the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Councils.    Sophomore Max Zimmerman had the opportunity of representing Antigua and Barbuda on the Organization of American States, junior Brendan Fortuner participated in the joint war game simulation as Viktor Crnovic of the Marvarian government, and Shelley Burian was S.P. Thamilchelvan in a joint crisis involving the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers.

 A highlight of the trip to Washington was a tour of the capitol and an opportunity to meet and speak with Chris Murphy, the recently elected US Congressman from the Fifth District of Connecticut. 

Chase Collegiate School is a co-ed day school for students in grades pre-K through 12, located at 565 Chase Parkway.