Eleven students from Illinois State University’s Department of Politics and Government participated in the National Model United Nations conference in New York City between April 10 and April 14, 2023. They represented Estonia in this international conference that brings together college students from different countries around the world. The students are Jazmine Benson, Jacob Boozell, Damien Broadhead, Hannah Brunier, Ash Ebikhumi, Allison Henrichsmeyer, Ryleigh Hickman, Ethan Larson, Sam Majka, Aurora Quintero, and Kerem Tasdan. They represented Estonia on six different committees. Avery Spranger accompanied the Model UN team as a graduate assistant on the trip to attend the conference.
Prior to the conference, students spent several months studying the history and politics of Estonia and the foreign policies, external relations, and international goals pursued by the European Union, of which Estonia is a member; as well as the global issues discussed at this year’s conference. During the conference, students spent several days discussing critical global issues and drafting working papers that address these issues jointly with other students in their committees. This year, these issues have encompassed many pressing global challenges, including the illicit supply of weapons to non-state actors; rural economic development; the human rights of persons displaced by climate change; nuclear waste management; and protecting refugees from human trafficking.
The Illinois State team was recognized as an Outstanding Delegation at the end of the conference. This award recognizes students’ knowledge of the issues they researched, their ability to represent the policy positions of Estonia, their knowledge of the rules of procedure, and their leadership in drafting working papers that address these challenges jointly with other delegates in their committees.
