FEATURE STORY: April 3, 2008

The 49th annual Model United Nations of the Southwest (MUNSW) recently took place the University of Oklahoma campus. Junior high, high school and college students represented countries by familiarizing themselves with the political, social, economic and religious views of their assigned countries and represented those views as delegates.

“We had a great turn out,” said Matthew Bruehl, OU anthropology student. “This year we had one school from Louisiana whose sponsor raised money to bring three delegate teams to the conference.”

Bruehl, an eight time participant, first attended the MUNSW as a high school student. Now as Secretary General, he spends most of the conference behind the scenes handling various issues and keeping everything running smoothly.

“I have a lot more fun on the other side of the conference,” he said. “I like being able to set back and see the whole enterprise at work.

“One thing I have really enjoyed the past few years is the watching the mentoring relationship grow. When I was a high school delegate, I was nervous and I felt I should already know everything. As Secretary General, I have encouraged more mentoring. The mentors are there to help the students and answer their questions.”

More than 250 students, from schools all over Oklahoma and Texas, as well as one high school from Louisiana, had the opportunity to experience the workings of the United Nations and actively gained first-hand knowledge of international politics.

MUNSW is a student organization committed to increasing awareness of the role the United Nations plays in today’s international community. During the annual conference students are educated using simulated international crisis and the debate of resolutions to demonstrate the United Nations’ effectiveness at addressing global issues.

“The Model UN is essentially role playing,” said Bruehl. “It takes on a life of its own.  Everyone is assigned countries and you get in a zone fully supporting the view of your country.”

The conference provided exciting challenges for the delegates by testing the delegates’ knowledge of the respective nations they represent and by giving the delegates a forum to gain experience in negotiation and crisis management. Through participation, delegates were given an understanding of foreign cultures and an appreciation of our global community.

“It is a great learning exercise, students learned the intricacies of international diplomacy,” said Bruehl. “First time participants are always impressed by the realness of the conference.”

MUNSW is sponsored by the University Outreach Precollegiate Programs department and the OU Student Association.

For information about this program and other programs offered for youth through the University of Oklahoma OUTREACH, Precollegiate Programs, call (405) 325-6897 or visit the Web site, http://youth.ou.edu.

-Megan Sagowitz