Center for International Studies

PREVIOUS NATIONAL
MODEL UNITED NATIONS EXPERIENCE

      Our students have successfully undertaken rather difficult assignments, such as representing Iran during the American crisis, and the USSR during the early stages of the disintegration of the Soviet Union. In 1996, our delegation represented Cuba soon after the death of four Cuban activists who had been killed when their plane was shot down by Cuban planes.

      Georgia Southern University’s National Model UN delegations have received numerous awards during the course of their participation in the National Model UN Conference. Since 2000, Georgia Southern has been recognized several times for its outstanding performances and has been recognized for five of the last six years in the category of outstanding position papers. Now in its fourth decade of participation, Georgia Southern University continues to be one of the longest-standing continuous delegations at the National Model UN Conference in New York. In addition, Georgia Southern has been hosting a high school conference longer than any university in the Southeast, and will be entering its third decade of hosting a Model UN Conference for middle school students. In 1998, Georgia Southern began its second Middle School Model UN Conference at the Coastal Georgia Center in Savannah, Georgia. Georgia Southern’s commitment to the Model United Nations program is evident in that it is only one of a handful of universities in the country that conducts middle school conferences.

      Participation in the Model United Nations program at Georgia Southern University is not only a great educational experience but a enhancement to any career. Previous participants in the program today can be found in some of the finest law schools in the country, in academia, in business, and even in government. In short, the Model United Nations is a timeless experience.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY’S
NATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS

      Since 1972, Georgia Southern University has participated in the National Model United Nations Conference held each year in New York City. In that time Georgia Southern has undertaken many difficult assignments. For instance, Georgia Southern represented the Islamic Republic of Iran at the 1980 conference during the time that Iran was holding 52 American hostages. Georgia Southern also represented the People’s Republic of China in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square and the Soviet Union in the last year of its existence. In recent year’s, Georgia Southern has represented Cuba, India, Pakistan, Sweden, and the Republic of Korea. In 2008, Georgia Southern will represent Turkey at a time when Turkey is striving to join the European Union, but is also confronting the challenges of Kurdish insurgencies from Northern Iraq. Each of these assignments has carried with it the complexities of learning the foreign affairs of countries quite different from the United States. In every case, however, students who have participated in the National Model United Nations Conference as part of Georgia Southern University’s delegation have returned with a renewed appreciation for the United Nations and the difficult issues it undertakes.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?

      Any full-time Georgia Southern University student is eligible to apply to become a member of Georgia Southern University’s Model United Nations delegation. Students should have a basic understanding of international affairs and understand the framework of the United Nations system. Students should also feel comfortable speaking before groups. Because of the rigor involved in the activities of the Model United Nations delegation, students should be in good academic standing and should be willing to commit several hours a week to the program.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

      Students will be expected to participate fully in all Model United Nations meetings and enroll in POLS/INTS 4130 during the Spring semester. Students will receive 3 hours of Political Science or International Studies credit by participating in the class and the activities of the Model UN delegation. Students will be required to research, write, and speak on issues pertaining to the country which is assigned to the Georgia Southern University delegation. All students selected for the Model UN delegation will be required to participate in the National Model United Nations Conference to be held in New York City in April 2003. The delegation will also meet 1-2 hours a week during the fall semester of each year.

      Members of Georgia Southern’s Model United Nations delegation also plan and conduct several Model United Nations conferences during the course of the year, including one to two high school conferences, two middle school conferences, and an advisors’ workshop which is conducted to train the advisors of schools participating in Georgia Southern University’s Model United Nations Conferences. Geogia Southern University will pay for the delegation’s airfare, hotel, registration, and some food costs. However, the bulk of money for food and entertainment will be provided by the student.

APPLICATION

      If you are interested in GSU’s Model United Nations program, please contact Dr. Barry Balleck at (912) 681-5929 or (912) 871-1398. Dr. Balleck can also be reached by e-mail at bballeck@georgiasouthern.edu.