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The Model UN; it sounds familiar to most, however their purpose does not seem as well known. The model UN represents the United Nations. The United Nations educate, helps individuals communicate, and assists students in gaining knowledge of globalization and multilateral diplomacy. As members of the Model UN, students get to participate and take on roles as different countries to investigate, research, and debate to develop solutions for countries (such as third world countries). The UN requires individuals to be strong in many fields, and the Model UN team of Pace Pleasantville does no different; their position is challenging and harsh, however at the end of the day it is rewarding and an experience of a lifetime.

The executive board members of Pace-Pleasantville's Model Union Nation are Monique Atherley, Asif Ali, Jamie Bolz, Matt Koppe, Brian Bolleteri, Kayla Castronova, Gabriel Tangalo and Jessica Dejesus. An executive board member's duty is to get the trips organized, guide new members on the process of writing a position, explain how conferences work, and work all behind the scenes events. The groups of students work hard as individuals and as a team. The purpose of Model UN is to simulate how the UN works, and an individual team is assigned a country and each person is put into different committees such as the General Assembly, World Bank, and World Health Organizations. With the UN going to different conferences, they contribute allot, not only to the team but also the Pace community. "Model UN contributes to the Pace Community, because it is a way for students to compete in the academic arena, it also helps them learn more about what is going on in the world and also stop students from transferring to another school," said member Kayla Castronova.

Past conferences have included trips to NYC and Atlanta. For spring break, the Model UN team left the United States for the first time to go to Mexico. The team tries to prepare one trip per semester. "It takes a lot of preparation and work, plus we have to miss school so only one major trip a semester, but sometimes we do small conferences over two days in the city," said Castronova.

Model UN is open to all Pace Students. Students can either join it as being a part of an organization or as a class. Students can either sign up for the class or show up prior to the class for a staff meeting. Class is held on Mondays from 2:30-5:30. Students get credit for the class and can take it for credit up to three times. There is a lot of training involved that is done during class time. Executive board members are responsible to teach new students how to write position papers, to caucus, how to win an argument intellectually, how to deliver a powerful speech, and all the rules of the Model UN conference. Students obtain many skills from working with the organization, public speaking, and how to have an intellectual argument. Students also become focused; they learn the proper way to research and write concise papers.

Also every member that has come out of model UN has come out with a lot more confidence in their everyday life. "What I have gained from MUN are very good public speaking skills, I have gained a lot of confidence in my intellectual skills, and have also gained a great group of friends, our motto is 'Our Family Against Your Team.' We are truly a family and there are no [other] people I can trust more than my Model UN family and they have made my Pace Experience great. I have also made great contacts because our Alumni come back and help every year. The MUN alumni are great people, they are what we call 'lifers,' they always come back to the family because the ties are too hard to walk away from," said Castronova. The Model UN allows students to gain leadership skills and better prepare them for the real world after college.

E-board meets from 1:30-2:30 right before class. If students or anyone want more information they can contact Professor Misevis at kmisevis@pace.edu, the professor of the class, and if people are looking for a niche where they can fit in at Pace University they are welcome to join the Model UN family.

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