The New Mexico State University Model United Nations continued its winning streak in November. The team traveled to Kobe, Japan, Nov. 20-26 for an in-person International Model UN Conference. NMSU students were named Outstanding Delegation, the highest recognition awarded.
Less than 5 percent of teams participating achieve this designation. Thirty-four groups from universities in 13 countries competed in the event.
“This was different because it was only our second international conference and the first time that we had represented NMSU in Japan,” said Neil Harvey, government professor and department head, who accompanied the group.
NMSU’s Model UN team took top honors earlier in the year at the National Model UN Conference, which was held in-person in New York City. The NMSU team also took top honors at the virtual 2021 National Model U.N. Conference, continuing a strong track record of achievement since the 1990s. The 2020 conference was cancelled due to the pandemic.
This conference was unusual because NMSU's team of eight students was split to represent two different countries – four represented the Israel delegation and four represented the U.S. delegation. The Israel delegation, which included Autumn McNabb, James Madrid, Cole Vetter and Jasmine Recinos, received the Outstanding Delegation Award. Shannon Downey, Liam Mitchell, Angel Amabisco and Citlalli Benitez, the president of NMSU's Model UN group, represented the U.S. Delegation.
The visit to Japan also included cultural tours. One was of Hiroshima, the site of the first nuclear bomb detonated in World War II. It had a powerful impact on NMSU Model UN member Amabisco, who was the U.S. delegate at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty committee.
"One of the most surprising things that I learned during this conference in Japan was how detrimental and impactful the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were," Amabisco said. "Thanks to the United Nations we have the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the International Criminal Court, the Geneva Conventions, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Monetary Fund and much more. All of these UN bodies were treaties, courts and even institutions that I never knew existed. Thanks to this Model UN team, I now understand or at least have an idea as to how our world works."
The delegation awards are calculated by quantifying the work done in committee, taking into account attendance, participation and other areas such as proper use of the rules of procedure. The schools are then put into three tiers based off their total points – Outstanding, Distinguished and Honorable Mention.
"All members of the team worked very hard to understand key aspects of complex global issues such as nuclear disarmament negotiations and proposals to address climate change," Harvey said. "All the while, they were learning through practice diplomatic skills and public speaking skills.”
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