Delegates from CSUN’s Model United Nations and African Union, clubs that mirror the international work done by their real-world counterparts, are actively researching and delivering their proposals at competitive conferences throughout the nation.

The first week of March drew about a dozen students from Pan African Studies 466 to Washington, D.C. in order to present their well-researched resolutions. Two African countries represented by CSUN were Egypt and Cote D’ivoire. If the respective committee accepts the resolution, made up of students from across the nation, it will be sent to the actual AU for review.

African Student Organization president and CSUN student Marvin Boateng said of his experience, “The class is two semesters long and we spent most of that time doing research.”

Boateng attended the conference with a resolution that failed to be adopted by the AU, but Boateng was satisfied that his personal committee accepted it.

CSUN NAACP president Yemi Kuku’s resolution was accepted, without contest, by all schools present and was one of the resolutions to be presented to the AU.

“The Model African Union is the collegiate representation of the African Union where students can learn to be diplomatic and actually have the chance to present the resolutions to the real African Union,” Boateng said.

Boateng also elaborated on the opportunity for networking he had with the trip to D.C.

“Networking was a big positive and we got to learn about how the AU runs their committees and conferences, which is an experience we might need in the future,” he said.

A big hit in

Long Beach

CSUN’s Model United Nations Delegation captured 11 awards at the annual California Model United Nations conference in Long Beach in the weekend of March 3.

Delegates were required to write position papers outlining their respective countries’ position on committee-related topics. Delegates at the conference presented them through public speeches, negotiations and resolutions.

CSUN students represented countries like Sudan, Somalia and Norway in a variety of United Nations Committees, including the World Health Organization, as well as the Commission on the Status of Women.

Tiarrie Gaddis, a junior political science and history major, represented Somalia in the General Assembly. The topic discussed was humanitarian aid in post-conflict stricken regions.

In preparation for the conference, Gaddis said he used several research methods. This included reading speeches by national leaders, studying domestic legislation and policy, and viewing news reports from international news agencies. He said he also studied publications and resolutions from UN agencies. The research paid off, earning Gaddis his first Distinguished Delegate Award ever as an MUN delegate.

With CALMUN behind them, CSUN MUN has two conferences left, one of which is the weeklong National Model United Nations Conference in New York.

The delegation has already won 26 awards this year, and more are expected.

“I’m not surprised at our Long Beach performance. We have a great, hardworking team and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon,” Gaddis said.

The Pan African Studies class on the Model African Union is open to juniors and seniors. Boateng said he recommends the class to all students.

“Anyone who’s interested in growing as a person, expanding their world view or in Africa as a whole would benefit from this class,” he said. “I put it on my resume and the firm I’m at for my internship thought it was a plus.”