The UPEI sum, Februaryl‘B, ESL-page 4, 'i '

N.M.U.N.

Dear Editor:

Since early last fall, a’ small, dedicated group of students has been working on plans to represent UPEI in the National Model ' United Nations simulation to take place in New York City between April 6 and April 11 of this year. the last two weeks their hard work has begun to show results.

Their success is due, in great measure, to the assis- tance of the student body outside the participating ‘ group, and, especially, to the generoSity of the Student Union Council. As adviser to the Model U.N. delegation,

I would like to thank and congratulate the Council for supporting such an important student activity, and to

In

report to the general student .

body about whatthe Model U.N. means to UPEI-and how it can be further assisted.

ll‘he Nbdel U.N. is a full- fledged simulation of the United Nations General Assembly, most of its committees, and same U.N.— affiliated bodies. One hundred and thirty-five country delegations are being simulated by students fram more than one hundred and twenty universities and colleges in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Only four Canadian schools are represented - Dalhousie, Concordia, John Abbott C.E.C.E.P. and -' UPEI!

Student participants from UPEI were recruited by advertising in the Sun and, when more expertise—was needed, by apprOaching students who seemed to have relevant backgrounds - especially in Economics. When it appeared, at ' registration deadline on November 10, that as many as fifteen students might participate, UPEI's dele- gation asked to represent two countries. Having decided in ’a series of meetings that Africa was our area of interest, we got assigned our first- choice country, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia, which was farther down on our list. For three months, then, UPEI has been committed to participate; $150 was sent to New York; our roles were announced in N.M.U.N. literature distributed ‘ across the continent.

The pressure to follow through successfully was on!. '

After this point, we went

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through sate harrowing moments, as qualms about the work load and, especially, worries about the possible financial burden mm depleted our original group. Vigorous recruiting got our numbers back up to seventeen and gave each country dele- gation a delegation head, charged with overall policy supervision and research co-ordination, leading six "Zimbabwean" delegates and nine "Ethiopian" delegates, each with a particular U.N. committee responsibility.‘ ~ The delegates face formid- able tasks. Each has to master a theme such as world trade, disarmament, human rights, environment, refu— I gees, freedom of information, reform of the international monetary system, food, or women's rights. Each has to be an expert on the politics, economics and culture of Zimbabwe or _ Ethiopia. Everyone has to be alert. to the likely policy positions — friendly, hostile, or uncommitted - of neigh— bouring countries, big powers, and policy "blocs". For four of the five days of . sessions, each delegate has to work primarily alone in his/her large "committee", such as UNCI‘AD or UNESCO. Delegates must 'use, U.N. language and observe dip- lomatic decorum, try to achieve influence, and fend

\ off attacks by Unfriendly

delegations. Resolutions will be prepared and dele— gates will need to cite

‘ numerous prior resolutions

and debates by date, and by session and resolution number. Above all, country policy must be consistent from committee to committee, and everyone will expect the "Zimbabweans" and the "Ethiopians" to act like their real U.N. counter- parts, not like Canadians from the Maritime provinces or from Ontario.

Many other schools partici— /

pating have up to fifteen years' experience at N.M.U.N. Regional Model U.N. 's and high school U.N.‘s have _ given some delegates numer- ous chances to acquire

prior mpertise. Large, diversified departments of political science .or schools of international affairs send their top, most mature students to compete. Schools ten or twenty times our size . are involVed. Some are definitely elite schools with large numbers of very well-to—do students and

huge endowments.

This is UPEI's first year of involvement in N.M.U.N. We are participating because

LETTERS '

- being able to pay for

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a few students from various disciplines decided to take a chance that we could pull this project together, and worked with the Political Science Department and

the, Political Science Students' Association (recipients of the ori- ginal flyer) to realize it. Senior or junior History, /

, Economics ,- Political

Science and Religious Studies majors anchor our delegations, but the major- ity of participants are ’ sophomores and freshmen. Enthusiasm and diligence, along with native intell- igence, are the delegation's main assets. Both N.M.U.N. guidebook information and advice from Dalhousie's political scienCe chairmen suggest that we can do quite well starting frcm this base.

From the beginning, finances have posed an awesome challenge. Air- fares quoted in October have- doubled by February, because of price hikes and seat shortages. Van rentals are costly, as is gas. 'Ihe hotel where all delegates will stay will cost about $2,000. Registration fees come to 0.8. $40 each. Total costs without meals will - approach $5,500.

If fund—raising should

fall short, I have stressed that those who had personal funds to contribute would pay into a general fund

to sponsor the entire delegation - all‘would‘ go, or none would! Mest dele- gates, like a lot of their fellow students, are living on the financial knife-edge. Several delegates have expressed doubt even about

meals in New York.

Today, however, prospects for the delegation 's fin- ancial success, seem promising. External Affairs has‘ offered up to $1,000 toward trans- portation. Raffles at student pubs have been _ yielding modest dividends — about $75 'a week. But the big, thrilling boost came from the Student Union last Sunday with a significant contribution". It looks like the delegation is approaching halfway mark financially.‘ ,There are still raffles to go, an approach to President Meincke, off-campus fund— raising, and possible wOrk weekends. Individual students can help in this process by buying raffle- tickets and suggesting _ fund-raising ideas to the chairman of the Political Science Department. But

body participating!) , a

the Student Union has, I think quite rightly, recog— nized that Wren UPEI is putting its collective best foot forward in an inter- national forum, (with over 1% of the whole student collective financial con— ‘ tribution is well warranted. we may hope that the Administration, despite financial crisis, can match their stake in this dele- gation's efforts!

So, I, tip my hat to the Student Union. Faith that an early commitment of money, time and persons to this project's success would be justified is paying off. Seventeen UPEI'ers will go to match wits with . students from some of the. most prestigious and largest and also from some of the smaller but very dedicated schools on the continent. Most people there will probably wonder "Where in h. . . is Prince Edward Island: Weintend to be sure they know, ‘after April 11. I am confident that we will perform with the best of

So let's get behind these seventeen students! They're taking seven gruelling days out just before exams- for travel and five days of twelve-shour formal activity.

" They may still wind up

shelling out lots of per-4 sonal cash they can't ' afford. As many as eleven . of them are pledged to

give up part of their reading week to research key information at the nearest U.N. depository library

in Halifax (more expenses involved). Most costs must

7 be pre—paid by early March.

Policy statements are being submitted to New York, in a flurry of activity, by . this Saturday. ' ,

If this year's project lives up' to expectations,

I believe we can hope to institutionalize UPEI's involvement in N.M.U.N. and open this experience up to dozens of students over the years. ‘ Even if we don't do that, ‘the StudentUnion has made a major contribution to getting our name known‘ out in the wide‘ world this year. Thanks advance to anyone else who can help.

Sincerely yours,

A.-Gary‘Webster ,- Chairperson, Political Science Department, Advisor to N.M.U.N.