Sinclair Community College will host the Dayton Model United Nations Conference on Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1.
“Model UN conferences, held all over the world, are a popular and fun way for students to learn about international affairs. The Sinclair event is one of the only two conferences in Ohio, and the only one anywhere sponsored by a community college” according to the event’s website.
Co-directors Jennifer and Kathleen Sooy said the conference is student-led and will feature current international issues, giving students from various colleges the chance to act as if they are in the United Nations.
“Most often, four-year institutions host the Dayton Model U.N. conference,” Kathleen Sooy said. “They have the political science [undergrad] students … in terms of large numbers, they have graduate students that can help, that can grow in the program and can provide leadership and get the experience with these types of skills, dealing with international security issues [and] development issues.”
The website said the issues featured will be energy and food security, sovereignty versus the right to self-determination and the Korean situation in the Southern Peninsula.
The six colleges to attend this year’s conference are University of Dayton, Wright State University, Cedarville University, Marietta College, Ohio Northern University and Sinclair.
Although the participants have been chosen, students are welcome to watch the conference. They are asked to contact the co-directors, by emailing them at kathleen.sooy@sinclair.edu, or jennifer.sooy@sinclair.edu. They can also contact Alex Elkins, who teaches PLS 2860, the Model U.N. course, at alex.elkins@sinclair.edu, or Nicole Wise, who is the security general of the conference at newise07@gmail.com or check in upon arrival in Building 12, Room 231.
The co-directors said participation is a great resume-builder for those looking to pursue a career in political science.
“They can move on and do internships at the U.N.; these are people who are serious about pursuing [a political science career], whether it’s becoming diplomats, or whether they work for Wright Patt … or homeland security, people who might want to work on the Hill dealing with foreign affairs … Congressional committees and state departments in general,” the co-directors said.
According to the event’s poster, those who are “Fascinated by diplomacy and international affairs,” may be interested in participating.
Although anyone is welcome to watch, those wishing to partake in the conference next year should sign up for PLS 2860.