By Dana Klosner-Wehner
The club took part in a competition at American University in Washington, D.C., two weeks ago. Sivilli, a 10th-grader who was acting as a minister in the Israeli cabinet, struck a deal with the representatives of the Palestinian territories. "We made a peace treaty with Palestine," he said. "They would get certain land and Israel would get certain land."
Sivilli said he learned a lot from the debate, including the importance of seeing both sides of an issue. "We needed to work together to form a consensus on what should be done," he said.
There were students from 14 schools at the American University conference, including visitors from as far away as Beijing. The students from Carey won the Outstanding Delegation award.
"Students get a better understanding of the world around them when they participate in the Model U.N.," said faculty advisor Patrick Frino, who teaches 10th-grade global history and 11th-grade A.P. U.S. history. "It really helps them to think on their feet. They learn to see the world from different angles and look at ways to solve problems. They need to come to a consensus and work out solutions with a wide range of people."
To become a member of the club, which has about 40 members, students must take a class called Contemporary World Issues. The club meets every day before school. Students study a range of countries and their stances on international issues. They delve into such things as the World Health Organization, the Cuban Missile Crisis and China's stance on refugees.
Before taking part in conferences, students write position papers proposing solutions to international problems, Frino explained. At the conferences they debate from their assigned country's point of view.
"I like debating," said 11th-grader Nicole Turato, who took Contemporary World Issues in eighth grade and joined the club in ninth grade. "The teacher e-mails choices to us. Then the people who run the conference allocate the countries."
"The club is a great experience, and it's a great way to have fun," said 10th-grader Louie Cona, who has been a member since ninth grade. Cona took part in a debate about the Cuban Missile Crisis at the American University conference, representing Robert McNamara, President Kennedy's secretary of defense.
"Sometimes they wake you up in the middle of the night and throw different problems at you," said Cona, who hopes to study political science or international studies in college and possibly become a U.N. delegate. "I was authorized to commit an air strike. and we almost started a nuclear war with Russia. In the end I convinced the committee not to."
"I like studying how other countries think about issues," said 11th-grader Chris Sarfin, who has been in the club since eighth grade. "We learn about issues like global warming and terrorism and their effect on both the United States and other countries."
Sarfin debated on behalf of Afghanistan at the conference. "There are stereotypes about Afghanistan," he said. "But if people can open up and understand Afghanistan, they would have a better understanding of how it works, both politically and socially."
The students study the country they are representing for six weeks to two months. They do much of their work on the Internet. "We use the Library of Congress Web site and the CIA Web site," Frino said. "We've also e-mailed ambassadors or consulates for the country they are studying, and they e-mailed us back."
Like the real U.N., the Model U.N. is also involved in charity. The group raises funds by selling lollipops and hosting bake sales and pretzel sales. The money they raise goes to an organization called One Laptop per Child, which gives laptop computers to children in developing countries.
Every school in the Sewanhaka High School District has a Model U.N. club. There is an Intra-District Model U.N. conference each April.
Comments about this story? E-mail joconnell@liherald.com.
