 |
| To prepare for the conference, students spent weeks studying and researching. |
In October 2009, R-MC Professor Tom Badey, Ph.D. (political science) and seven students enrolled in R-MC’s International Law course traveled to the nation’s capitol to participate in the DC National Model United Nations. Over the course of three days, the Randolph-Macon delegation practiced diplomacy, engaged in negotiations and confronted some of the countless problems facing the world today.
The R-MC delegation was assigned the task of representing the Republic of Korea, better known in the United States as South Korea. To prepare for the conference, students spent weeks studying and researching South Korea, including its history, current interests and position in today’s world. These efforts were necessary to ensure that the delegation would be able to accurately represent, and indeed “become” Koreans for the model.
The conference was attended by members of 37 schools from around the nation and around the world; a total of 74 countries were represented. More than 450 students came from such diverse locations as California, Spain, Italy and China. They spent the weekend discussing United Nations policy, writing resolutions and attempting to come to a consensus on how to deal with problems ranging from water scarcity to nuclear disarmament. These topics were discussed in separate committees, representing the structure of the United Nations itself. Each arm of the United Nations, be it the Security Council or the Environmental Programme, was represented in some way.
The R-MC delegation participated in four of the committees at the model: the General Assembly 1st Committee, the General Assembly 3rd Committee, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Environmental Programme. Each committee was tasked with creating draft resolutions to address problems in three areas. The delegations worked to represent their assigned countries and ensure that the interests and concerns of their countries were addressed. This involved contention and debate, and the model managed to quite accurately represent the negotiations and diplomacy that take place on a regular basis at the United Nations.
The students participating in the model as part of the R-MC delegation were
Blanka Mazakova ’10, Brittany Bryan ’11, Thomas Lindenblatt ’13, Christopher Jamison ’10, Erica Nichols ’11, Jonathan Schmeelk ’10 and
Vi Mai ’12, who said they enjoyed the experience and learned how diplomacy works. “Our students showed perseverance and determination in hammering out details on draft resolutions,” said Badey. “They worked long hours trying to reach a compromise and showed that they had what it takes to be exemplary diplomats.”
Student participation was supported in part by the recently-created Earl Koontz Fund for International Relations, which was created to honor R-MC Professor Earl L. Koontz Jr., who taught political science at the college. The fund was created through the generosity of Mike Goyne '73, who majored in political science and took many of Dr. Koontz’s classes. Koontz passed away in 1998.
In spring 2010, R-MC Professor Brian Turner, Ph.D. (political science) will lead a delegation representing Uganda to the D.C. Model African Union, which draws students from around the globe.
For information of how to contribute to this fund please contact Laura E. Doherty, executive director of development, Randolph-Macon College, P.O. Box 5005, Ashland, VA 23005 or e-mail her at lauradoherty@rmc.edu