Lawrence’s Model United Nations hosted their second annual United Nations Day celebration Tuesday, Oct. 26.
United Nations Day celebrates the chartering of the UN. MUN used the holiday as an opportunity to raise awareness about their organization’s mission and get members motivated for the upcoming year.
As part of the celebration, two speakers took the stage: Associate Professor of Government and Edwin & Ruth West Professor of Economics and Social Science Claudena Skran and Stephen Edward Scarff Memorial Distinguished Visiting Professor at Lawrence Rudolf V. Perina.
Perina, a retired member of the Senior Foreign Service, focused on some of the lesser-known aspects of the United Nations’ mission in his speech. Angela Ting ’11, said Perina helped bring “a positive outlook to what the U.N. does. especially to the humanitarian work that [they] take part in.”
Perina was the U.S. Ambassador to Moldova and has served the Foreign Service in many other positions as well. He and Assistant Professor of Government and Stephen Edward Scarff Professor of International Affairs Jason Brozek are currently teaching a class on intervention and conflict resolution.
Skran, who has been the MUN’s sponsor for the past 10 years or so, spoke specifically about MUN and her plans for the organization, providing a general outline of the club’s goals.
A common theme discussed throughout the event was that MUN is growing. Membership has steadily increased over the past few years and Zara Matthew, MUN’s secretary, attributes the club’s growth to their increased presence in the community.
Matthew said, “We’re growing because we’re actually active on campus.” The group plans to stay that way.
Ting commented, “We are actually planning to expand [our] club in terms of membership and by doing more things on and off campus.”
The event had about 50 students in attendance, and plans for on-campus “simulations” and trips to conferences are already in the works.
Model United Nations celebrates United Nations Day
