After 75 years of watching other schools run Model United Nations (MUN), PHS is taking the first steps to start a chapter of its own.
“It’s such a new club,” said secretary of MUN sophomore Ian Nguyen. “No one really knows how to [participate in MUN meetings] yet, so we are kind of learning along with them.”
At the inaugural meeting in September, leaders of the club presented a slideshow focusing on the topics students will eventually have to address in competition. Twenty students attended the meeting.
“The club is just taking off so the environment is laid back but we plan to follow the structure of other teams across the world, and hope to participate in competitions soon,” club president sophomore Geneva Johnson said.
MUN is a simulation of the United Nations where students take on the role of an ambassador for a country while debating topics such as gender equality, climate action, and global health. The club focuses on argumentative, public speaking, and interpersonal skills. It helps to educate students on current and past affairs addressed by adult politicians around the world. UN.org adds the organization inspires students to take a look beyond high school campuses to pressing global matters.
“MUN is a good way to get into political policies and become an active member in our community to help educate Piedmont on things going on right now,” Johnson said.
“Students interested in mock trial and debate might also be interested in this club as it mimics real debates and adult tasks our politicians face in the world every day,” vice president of MUN sophomore Laurel Minor said.
Johnson also said that students interested in English and History would thrive in the writing and argumentative work of the club.
The MUN team has been introduced to PHS as a lunch club, not an extracurricular. Due to a lack of legacy and experience at the high school, it may take time for the chapter to participate in competitions.
“We want to set the basis of the club so that people in the future, can eventually make it pretty serious,” Minor said, “but as of now it won’t become a sponsored club unless administration really pushes for it.”
Minor said that while the future of PHS-MUN is still uncertain, current members are excited to get started with the debates and conversations that happen in MUN.
The club is held every Monday during lunch in Room 281.
