On March 11 and March 12, 290 delegates from Cuba, Germany, China, Jordan and other countries gathered together to discuss the world\u2019s most pressing issues, such as famine, drug trafficking and the rights of undocumented immigrants. While this might seem like the yearly session for the General Assembly of the United Nations, these delegates were actually high school students from throughout New Jersey who gathered in the classrooms of Pope Hall for the 23rd Annual High School Model United Nations (SPUHSMUN), hosted by Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University and the Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership. This year\u2019s conference was led by Secretary General Carlos Gonzalez \u201914 and Under Secretary Mary Zeoli \u201915, along with other students from the University who participate in the United Nations Student Alliance Group \u2013 an action oriented program focused on educating and mobilizing students to support the principles of the United Nations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe program is organized by the students of Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s with the support of faculty and the administration,\u201d said Executive Director of the Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership Nicholas Chiaravalloti, J.D. \u201cWe hope the program encourages high school students to develop a better understanding of global issues, as well as international diplomacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The SPUHSMUN, which consisted of more than 300 high school students, formed eight committees. Marist High School represented the United States, Japan and Vietnam; Paramus Catholic represented France and the United Kingdom; Christ the King represented China and Holy See; Manasquan High School represented Syria, Germany and Iran; Tenafly High School represented Russia and Cuba; West Milford represented Jordan; West Orange High School represented South Korea; and Rising Star Academy represented Egypt and Lebanon, among other high schools. All delegations served on each committee, including the United Nations Security Council.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my third year participating in this event,\u201d said Peter Amerman, a senior at Manasquan High School and a delegate of Germany. \u201cI learned a lot about other countries and their global views. It\u2019s interesting because it\u2019s not the students\u2019 personal views on a particular topic. We had to research our countries and take the same stance they have.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt times it could be frustrating because everyone\u2019s perspective is different, but it\u2019s cool to come to a compromise on things,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
This year, delegates from the various countries discussed, debated and deliberated on hot topics such as chemical and biological weapons, biodiversity, healthcare and water sanitation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe United Nations isn\u2019t just about diplomacy, it\u2019s also about social justice, the environment and more,\u201d said Gonzalez. \u201cAll of these things come together at the United Nations. It\u2019s a lot of work because you\u2019re trying to get all of these cultures and different perspectives of each delegate from each country to come together and agree on something.\u201d<\/p>\n
During a session for water sanitation, a high school representative for Saudi Arabia stated his country was facing a scarcity of water, and asked delegates from other countries their viewpoints on how this problem could be approached. A delegate from Jordan suggested desalinization \u2013 the removal of salts and other chemicals from seawater.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy doing this, some nations will have water,\u201d the Jordan delegate stated. \u201cFor those nations that are not close to a water source, we could distribute clean water and seeds to help those lands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amerman said that Germany was concerned about cyber security, and brought this issue up during one of the sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe United States infiltrated our cyber security,\u201d he said. \u201cEven though we are allies, we had to go against them to keep our sovereignty. A lot of other countries agreed with this viewpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the conclusion of the two-day conference, awards were presented for such categories as \u201cOutstanding Delegate,\u201d \u201cOutstanding Delegation\u201d and \u201cBest Position Paper.\u201d<\/p>\n
The SPUHSMUN is a yearly event at the University. Last year, more than 200 students from 13 high schools representing 18 delegations participated in the conference.<\/p>\n