Local students tell about what their time with Model UN has meant to them
Students know the damndest things.
One Clearview Regional High School student is an expert on Portugal’s drug laws. Another knows the ins and outs of the late Qing Empire, the last imperial dynasty of China.
Why do they know these things? Because these students think simulating United Nations committees is important to having a better understand of the world, and it will help them move up in life. They are part Clearview Regional High School’s Model United Nations.
Case in point: Clearview senior Matt Vona.
“I was always interested in business and finance,” said Vona, a future New York University business school student.
Vona started in Model UN as a freshman hoping this extra-curricular would teach him about economics and give him a broader perspective on similar topics.
After four years, he sees the larger landscape of his favorite topics, but he also understands more.
“Model UN opened up a million doors. I didn’t realize how interested I was in social issues and how it all ties together. Before I was just interested in economics. Model UN made everything one picture,” Vona said.
Schools throughout the country host Model UN conferences, and while the students have teachers helping them prepare, the events are largely conducted by the students themselves.
While the real United Nations attempts to foster positive and productive relationships between nations, Model UN is largely for students to develop skills in negotiating, public speaking, paper/resolution writing and diplomacy — while simulating UN committee meetings. It is also a competition and students are awarded for the best speech, best delegate and more.
The Clearview Model UN crew ventured to Moorestown High School on Feb. 3 to engage with other schools about world issues.
Fiona Kniaz, a senior, is one Clearview student who bested her fellow committee members and walked away with the award of Best Position Paper.
Kniaz’s 750-word paper detailed some aspects of Portugal’s “controversial position of drug decriminalization,” as she puts it. She chose this topic because she thought Portugal’s position would serve as the steering wheel of the conversation during the conference.
“In Portugal, drugs are decriminalized and are treated as a public health issue rather than as a criminal offense,” she said.
In her research, Kniaz said she found Portugal has seen a lot of “positive impacts” because of the country’s position. In her paper, she mentions the country has seen reduced drug addiction, crime and overdose rates.
Kniaz aims to major in political science in college and eventually work in local politics.
Another award-winner from Clearview was Dara Wax, who won Best Delegate for her positions on the Qing Empire.
The Qing Dynasty fell in 1912 after ruling China since the 1600s.
“You learn a lot about the world by examining time periods that are not your own,” Wax said.
A big question explorer, Wax likes asking the question “What would happen if…?”
She explained one of the most important and interesting aspects of Model UN is being able to debate from other countries’ perspectives.
Clear that Clearview students show no sign of cowering from large, intellectual tasks, the school will host a Model UN conference on Saturday, April. 14.
Wax and Vona will serve as co-secretary generals at the conference. To put it simply, they will run the show.
Kniaz and other Clearview students will serve as committee chairpersons. Specifically, Kniaz will serve as committee chairperson of the historical council — the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.
This will be Clearview’s first time hosting a conference.
Clearview staff Linda Hughes and Carley Datz serve as Clearview Model UN co-advisors.
