Eagle News

Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Michael Ricci A coffee shop is being built in Holmes Hall, home of the U.A Whitaker School of Engineering. This will be the third location on campus where students can get coffee.

Model United Nations is a registered student organization that aims to
simulate the political aspects of the United Nations in an entertaining
and educational manner.

Members participate in activities that are
similar to real intergovernmental conferences
and learn skills such as negotiating, bargaining and communication.

"It's very educational but it's also a lot of
fun. Everyone involved is very open-minded
toward all types of discussion," said Ajla
Memic, president. Memic, a senior double
majoring in political science and resort and
hospitality management, has been president
of Model UN for two and a half years.

"I initially became involved with the club
during my freshman year. After taking a
global studies class I discovered an interest
in politics," Memic said.

Model UN was created by members of the
Naples Council of World Affairs in the middle
of the 1990s. The late Sloane Robbins,
for whom a conference scholarship is now
named, played a major role. The organization
has more than 20 active members.

The group will attend conferences on
campus March 4 to 5. "The conferences are
highly educational and include insightful political discussion," Memic said.

Meetings for the organization are held
each week. Activities during weekly meetings
include discussions about which conferences
the organization should attend, future
events they should hold on campus, and various political simulations.

"We also have weekly simulations that
all members take part in. Each member represents a nation and its
views on a specific topic. These simulations help to educate in a
hands-on way," Memic said.

Model UN meets at 5 p.m., Mondays in
Sugden Hall, room 240. Students can join by
attending weekly meetings or by contacting
Ajla Memic by e-mail at amemic@eagle.fgcu.

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