Model United Nations and Advanced Geography
| Humanities Course | |
|---|---|
| Course Code | UNAG |
| Year Opened | 1993 |
| Sites Offered | BRI, LOS, NYC |
| Previously Offered | ALE,BDA, BTH, CAL, CHS, CGV, EST, GIL, HKY, LAJ, LOU, MBU, MSA, MTA, NLD, NUE, NRS, OMS, PAL, SAN, SCZ, SHD, STP, SFD, SRF, WLA, WDS, WIN |
Course Description
From the CTY Course Catalog] (2023):
Countries addressing a global challenge like climate change, weapons proliferation, or the coronavirus pandemic often present their concerns to the United Nations. The ways in which the U.N. tackles them is sometimes controversial. Nevertheless, understanding its mission and functions remains essential to international relations. In this course, you will study the structure and processes of this multilateral institution through readings, discussions, research, and short lectures. You’ll examine how physical, economic, cultural, and political geographies influence and inform policymaking, build your writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills, and practice them in model U.N. simulations. You and your classmates will assume the role of ambassador to a particular country and research where you would stand on issues before the U.N.; draft position papers, and refine resolutions to present them to a mock meeting of the General Assembly, Security Council, or other U.N. entity. As novice diplomats learning the art of compromise, you’ll negotiate resolutions, practice parliamentary procedure, and build coalitions to represent your country’s best interests.
Past Classes
UNAG CHS 13.2 was instructed by Sierra and TA'd by Sarah. Halfway through the session, the UNAG class became engaged in prank wars with both Examining the Evidence B and Flight Science. A "UNAGicorn" was left in EXAM-B to be returned to the UNAG classroom as a EXAMicorn (with the addition of caution tape spread throughout the room). An attack on Flight Science had the consequence of numerous "airplanes" made of straws and clay stuck throughout the classroom, one of which was stuck in the forehead of the poster of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, leaving TA Sarah very emotionally distraught. Nukes and North Korea were frequently discussed, despite not being part of the actual curriculum. They also got their own Nine-Square court, which generally hacked off the rest of the camp.
At CHS 14.2 (again instructed by Sierra and TA'd this time by Sam), the last debate turned into a World War III, after Rwanda launched an invasion of the UK, China sanctioned Russia for losing a nuke, and China sent 200,000 troops to invade Rwanda. This probably happened because of World in Conflict, an activity introduced by RA Gerard earlier in the session.
At CHS 15.2, UNAG started a feud with BACO-B, and there was much tension, targeting in foursquare, an ultimatum left on a bench on the quad, and a unicorn stuffed animal that UNAG threatened to kill if BACO did not accept their peace terms.
At BRI 15.2, the UNAG class members loved to play a variation of tag called 'Everybody's It' that was taught to them by their instructor. They loved it so much that they created standardized rules to the game, formed alliances, and even added commentators.
