By Jordan Beaubois, News Editor
Every Spring semester, Professor Roger Durham offers a AQ high school Model United Nations (AQMUN) for high school students across Michigan. This opportunity is for more than just the high schoolers to practice their diplomacy, it is also for the Aquinas students to refine skills in diplomacy and cordiality in open debate. The high school student-delegates try to solve the world’s problems to the best of their abilities and faculties available to all present.
AQMUN took place in the Albertus Science hall on the third floor of the building, the event took place Friday night from 6-9 p.m. and 9 a.m – 8 p.m.. with breaks in between for lunch, a tour of the campus for the high schoolers and a dinner. Wege provided the food and drink for all those in attendance both students and faculty.
Though the delegates were role-played by high school students, all conducted themselves with cordiality while in western professional dress. “These students definitely had the proper guidance, passion, and knowledge for the simulation,” said junior Ryan Lozinski, “I was able to challenge them academically through diplomacy and they have easily made their advisors proud,” said Lozinski. Some (high school) student-delegates went so far as to utilize the available white boards to assist in their articulation of the political stances of their respective nation-states.
“It’s a great experience, a great opportunity for high school students to learn fundamental policies that help govern the international world of politics,” said Aquinas junior Aiden Butler who was Chair on the Boutros-Boutros Ghali committee. Butler’s committee observed the high school delegates navigate issues such as the Venezuela-Guyana border dispute and the North Korean nuclear proliferation predicament.
Quinn Fjelstul looking proud at the work he has done for AQMUN – Photo by Christian Martinez Ramos
The Aquinas students who participated in this experience, got to switch positions from delegates to chairs, and rapporteurs. At the end many of the students from their respective schools would take home awards for their outstanding performances.
The Saint 