Negotiating Success
LAU hosted the closing ceremony of its annual Model United Nations (MUN) conference on March 2, celebrating the biggest and most successful program to date.
More than 500 middle school students from over 60 schools across Lebanon participated in the Fourth Annual Middle School Global Classrooms LAU MUN Conference. MUN simulates the organizational work and structure of the United Nations, with students participating as delegates to various UN Committees. The students research, formulate and advocate political positions based on the actual policies of the countries they represent.
As part of the closing conference, they spent two days on LAU’s Beirut and Byblos campuses simulating 84 countries in 12 different United Nations committees. The conference was the culmination of months of training led by LAU students on UN protocol, conflict resolution, negotiation and diplomacy. In keeping with the spirit of the United Nations, students also participated in a cultural celebration.
At the closing ceremony, which was attended by a number of ambassadors, TV journalist Paula Yacoubian gave a keynote address, commending the youth as “our hope for a better tomorrow” and urging them to persevere in the face of adversity. She was later presented with an award for Charismatic Performance.
Architecture student William Nasr, this year’s MUN Secretary-General, told participating students that they were not “only the leaders of tomorrow but also the leaders of today.”
Elie Samia, MUN program director meanwhile commended LAU’s MUN program, noting how it contributed to a culture of respect and peaceful resolution among young people. “This year is the most successful simulation session we’ve had, both in quality and quantity,” he noted.