Fresh Off Major National Win, Baruch’s Model UN Team Kicks Off 2023-24 Season

September 8, 2023

The members of Baruch College’s Model United Nations (BMUN) team return to campus this year with a major national win under their belts and a call for fresh talent.

Last spring, BMUN won the Outstanding Delegation award at the National Model United Nations Conference (NMUN) held in New York City – the largest and among the most prestigious conference at the collegiate level.

NMUN traces its roots back to a 1927 simulation of the League of Nations – the UN’s predecessor in intergovernmental organizations – hosted by Syracuse University. The conference brings together students from colleges and universities across the globe to “advance understanding of the UN and contemporary global issues through…programs that…prepare participants for active global citizenship.”

In advance of the conference, each team is given a delegation and various committee assignments. Students research the country or delegation’s history and policy positions and otherwise prepare to represent them in simulated meetings of UN committees.

During the conference, delegations will draft, propose, and vote on UN resolutions, discuss important international issues, and engage in some good-natured wheeling and dealing with their fellow delegates between committee meetings.

Recognition on an International Stage

At the 2023 NMUN Conference, the BMUN team was assigned the delegation from Palestine, which has observer status in the United Nations. With limited voting power due to that designation, the team had to be both tenacious and creative in order to advance their foreign policy positions, promote Palestine’s economic interests, and play a role in the various global issues of trade, security, and human rights that take center stage at the conference.

BMUN’s members were rewarded for their efforts with the highest award offered – Outstanding Delegation, an honor bestowed in recognition of exceptional performance at a Model United Nations conference. The theme for the conference was “radical empathy,” and the Baruch team’s work and conduct reflected that ethos, earning them the well-deserved recognition.

Members of the delegation, who received C.V. Starr Fellowships in International Education to help cover the costs of participating, included:

• Aswathi Nair, Class of 2024, Finance at the Zicklin School of Business
• Ali Darwish: Class of 2024, Computer Information Systems at Zicklin School of Business
• Tarek Darwish: Class of 2023, Operations Management at the Zicklin School of Business
• Melani Laranjeira: Class of 2025, International Business at the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs
• Alexis Lewis: Class of 2025, Economics at the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences
• Connor Menzies: Class of 2025, Political Science at the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences
• Hariharan Murugesan: Class of 2023, Political Science at the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences
• Zayd Patel: Class of 2024, Entrepreneurship at the Zicklin School of Business

Future Global Leaders

Lene Skou, Deputy Director of the Weissman Center for International Business and an adjunct professor in Zicklin’s law department, accompanied the students to the 2023 NMUN Conference as the club’s advisor, but she is quick to point out that the group is largely self-directed, with many opportunities for student leaders to shine.

Basmalla Attia (’24), who was the club’s president last year, described the benefits of participating in Model UN for students, noting that “The greatest feature of this club is the community it fosters. Alumni return every year to celebrate the wins and train future generations on diplomatic procedures developments in international relations.”

Attia, who is majoring in Economics and Political Science at the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, trained the team throughout the year on parliamentary procedure, negotiating United Nations resolutions, and honing the group’s critical thinking and intercultural communication skills.

Aswathi Nair (’24), who is serving as BMUN’s president this year, pointed out the benefits of Model UN to international organizations like the United Nations itself: “In order for future generations to handle global issues and encourage international cooperation, student participation in Model United Nations is crucial. MUN encourages a forum for intergovernmental negotiations, the promotion of peace, human rights, and sustainable development on a global scale. As a result, students strive to make the world a better and more peaceful place for all peoples and states.”

Apply to Join BMUN Today!

Students who are interested in joining BMUN can apply today by filling out an interest form before the club’s first meeting, which will take place Thursday, September 14th during club hours (12:30pm-2:30pm). For those who are unable to attend the first session, the group is holding a second general interest meeting on Friday, September 22 from 6:00pm-8:00pm.

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