“Integrative diversity through international awareness.” This slogan is a defining statement of San Diego State’s new Model United Nations club. Recognized by Student Life & Leadership on May 5, the first club meeting was held at the beginning of this month and will continue to be held every Thursday night at 6 p.m. in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union. Any SDSU student in good standing, after an application and interview process that will occur at the beginning of every semester, is allowed to join the club.
According to the United Nations Association’s website, “Model United Nations is an authentic simulation of the UN General Assembly, UN Security Council, or other multilateral body, which introduces students to the world of diplomacy, negotiation, and decision making.”
International economics and political science senior and President Joel Deas formed the club after speaking with multiple people that suggested its leverage in the professional world, including a UNA board member with whom he spoke at an event for the San Diego World Affairs Council, and a former director of one of the departments in the National Security Council with whom he met on a trip to Washington, D.C. earlier this year.
Deas worked to create the organization’s constitution and structure. They chose students who were already leaders on campus to join him on the executive board of the club.
The club is currently assembling a secretariat board to oversee the home conference, as well as a travel team to attend and participate in upcoming conferences in Davis, New York and even Rome, Italy.
Teams participating in these conferences must take on the identity of a foreign country and argue for or against certain issues from the standpoint of this country.
“You want to be prepared in a way where you forgot how to argue from an American point of view,” Deas said.
There are a variety of students involved with the Model UN at SDSU. While many ISCOR, political science and international business majors are inevitably attracted to the club, there many other types of students involved with the group as well.
Vice President of Philanthropy Jessica Michel is a social work sophomore whose ideal job is to do social work for the United Nations.
“I have always been interested in global affairs and helping people,” she said. “The Model UN is a great place for me because it offers a combination of both.”
Deas said he hopes the group will be able to mediate campus debates and problems involving international relations, as the Model UN practices nonpartisan problem solving.
He spoke of providing student led diversity initiatives and motivating students to become actively engaged in their community.
Much like the United Nations, SDSU’s Model UN tries to integrate values such as civic engagement, gender equality, sustainability and development into their organization. This appeals to students like international business sophomore Joel Lopez, who heard about the Model UN club from a friend and was drawn specifically to the club’s dedication to promoting cultural diversity.
“I am actually working on starting a business, and knowing that I am not alone in embracing the fact that there is a much needed awareness of international affairs and cultural diversity really stood out to me and pushed me to pursue it,” Lopez said.
SDSU’s Model UN club works to foster social engagement and professional development in its members for the purpose of succeeding in the club as well as in life after college.
“It’s really an organization with unlimited potential, and we would like you to be part of that potential,” Deas said.
