The Harvard National Model United Nations Conference will welcome Florida A&M’s Model UN team for the first time in February.
With the help of the 42nd student senate and the student body’s activity and service fees, the academic organization received $8,972 to send 10 members to the conference in Boston. The appropriation bill to pay for the trip was passed during Monday night’s senate meeting after a 24-1 vote.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Anthony Siders, will pay for the conference’s registration fees, hotel accommodations and transportation. Siders, who was pleased with the outcome of the vote, said the process was a great experience.
“This was a great opportunity to see A&S fees used in a practical form,” Siders said. “Any time I can help further someone’s academic pursuits is always good.”
Cindy Peters, co-adviser of the FAMU Chapter of the Model UN Association and instructor for the Center for Global Security, also attended the senate meeting. Co-adviser Karen Mitchell and Mariah Williams, the team’s president, attended the meeting as well.
Peters said that student organizations have to be diligent when requesting funds from the student senate.
“It’s a lot of work,” Peters said. “You really have to network with the senators. I advise others to get to know the process.”
Williams accompanied Siders to the lectern as he began to present the bill to the senate and the gallery. While most students in the gallery left before the reading of this bill, those who remained were able to see their A&S fees push one of FAMU’s academic organizations toward success.
“At the conference, we get to play diplomats and represent a real country,” Williams said. “We will compete to see which school represents its country the best.”
The HNMUN Conference was founded in 1955 and is one of the oldest and largest Model UN conferences in the U.S. This year’s conference expects to host 3,000 students and faculty members at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel from Feb. 14, 2013 to Feb. 17, 2013. To learn more, visit hnmun.org.