91ÖÆƬ³§

Four LU Model United Nations (MUNLU) students representing Venezuela at the second annual TexMUN conference Jan 15-17 were named an honorable delegation by the Osgood Center for International Studies.

Dillon Nicholson of Port Arthur, Miroslava Zendejas of Baytown, Alejandro Guadian of Jasper, and Joseph Wells of Beaumont represented Venezuela in the World Health Organization, General Assembly First Committee and the Security Council.

Delegates and broader delegations are judged on their ability to stay in character, the quality of position papers they write prior to the conference, their conflict resolution and negotiation skills, speeches they make in-conference and their draft resolutions, among other criteria.

Zendejas and Nicholson, partners in the Security Council, addressed the situation in North Korea, enhancing international cooperation on the implementation of counter-terrorism, and advancing women’s participation in mediation and peace processes.

“We were recognized as an honorable delegation because we fought until the voices of the Venezuelan people were heard. We defended our country against tyrannical oppressors and we held high standards for our fellow delegates,” Nicholson said. “We did not budge until the necessary amendments were made to the Security Council’s draft resolutions so that the UN could hold state-sponsored terrorism more accountable. Our resolution passed by acclamation.”

In GA1, Guadian among others debated the inalienable right to use nuclear materials for peaceful purposes, the role of media in the context of international security, and spreading nuclear free zones.

Wells and the delegates in the World Health Organization discussed increasing access to medical care in developing countries, promoting interstate communication within medical communities, and providing basic and primary health care services after natural disasters.

“Our honorable delegation award was one of only three chosen by the conference staff,” Nicholson said. “The two other winners were Baylor University and Texas Christian University, schools with established Model United Nations programs.”

This award is the first for Lamar’s Model United Nations program (MUNLU), which was established in 2015 by a group of 91ÖÆƬ³§ faculty and students interested in international relations. The next conference student delegates will attend, NMUN NY, will take place in New York City in March. NMUN NY is the largest model United Nations simulation in the world. 91ÖÆƬ³§ will represent Botswana.

Model United Nations at 91ÖÆƬ³§ offers both a traditional classroom learning option and an application for general club membership. For more information or to apply for membership contact director Amir Fakhravar at (409) 880-7536.