After the success of its first mini-model UN, held on 31 March 2001, the UNA Sarasota-Manatee Chapter held a second one-day Model UN Conference on Saturday 17 November 2001, at the Selby Public Library in Sarasota, for high school students, simulating a UN Security Council session for increasing the “effectiveness of UN sanctions”, as measures to apply pressure on a State to comply with the objectives and resolutions set by the Security Council without resorting to the use of force. Students of High Schools in Sarasota-Manatee counties and other neighboring areas were invited to attend the Conference. There was no registration fee and a complimentary light lunch was offered to participants.
In this second meeting (SMMUN II), the participants included 59 students from 7 schools (Out-of-Door Academy, Port Charlotte HS, Sarasota Christian School, Riverview HS, Sarasota HS, Booker HS, Bloomingdale HS) and about 40 teachers, resource persons and UNA staff.
Video clips with commentary on SMMUN II were shown, in the same day, on Sarasota’s News Channel 6, and an article appeared on the front page of the local section of the Sarasota Herald Tribune, on 18 November.
Rachel Petrosky from Port Charlotte High School, and John Shoemaker-Schmielau, from Out-of-Door Academy, received an award of $200 each, as best delegates.
Students take on world at Model U.N. Conference
(The following is a shortened version of James Roland’s article appearing in Sarasota Herald-Tribune on 18 November 2001 about SMMUN II)
Julia Fleming and Colleen Campbell arrived at their first Model United Nations Conference on Saturday expecting a slow and often tedious event. "I thought we'd be quiet and just sit back and not do that much," Campbell said.
Instead, the Sarasota Christian School students found themselves in the middle of a weighty debate about humanitarian aid to countries facing U.N. sanctions.
The conference, sponsored by the Sarasota-Manatee chapter of the United Nations Association was held at the Selby, Public Library and drew nearly 60 students from seven area high schools...
In light of the ongoing war in Afghanistan and the future role of the U.N. in that country, chapter President Daniel Luu said educating American students about international relations is critical these days.
"Kids need to be talking about what's going on in other countries," Luu said. "The U.S. cannot live alone. We're preparing the students for the future and understanding U.S. policies in the context of the rest of the world."
As delegates from France, Campbell and Fleming refused to support a proposed resolution calling for the withholding of food, water and medical supplies from countries not in compliance with the sanctions."We just think they should punish the government and not the people," Fleming said.
Their refusal to compromise eventually led to a change in the resolution's wording requiring the U.N. to use "its best efforts" to get humanitarian aid to the people. The resolution setting guidelines for "smart sanctions" was passed with only 15 minutes before Saturday's conference was scheduled to end.
For many students, the conference was their first taste of Model United Nations. Riverview High School junior Marcella Agner said the conference taught her much more about international relations than any classroom assignment. "You get a feel for the U.N. and the role it plays and you learn about how resolutions are created," she said. "You're getting active in it."
Among the most dominant delegates were those from Port Charlotte High School and in particular United Kingdom delegates Evan Waldt and Shannon Debus. When they weren't speaking during discussions of the entire Security Council, they worked the room seeking approval on their positions.
"For many of them, it's their first conference and they're doing very well," Luu said." All of the problems of peace and security in the world are the responsibilities of these countries. The students are finding there are no easy solutions."
James Rolland
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