LSC Students Get Diplomatic

Lyndon State College will soon have its own chapter in the National Model United Nations club.

The NMU gives participants the chance to play the role of a diplomat who represents a world nation. Students do research on their nation and simulate discussion and debate about international affairs of the nations being represented.

The goal of the NMU is to teach students the processes that go into United Nations, giving students a greater understanding about how nations bargain and communicate.

The Lyndon Chapter of the Model UN club began when Na Zhan, newly appointed president of the club, brought the idea up to professor David  Plazek. Zhan had been a part of the Model UN club in the past, and was pleased to find that Plazek was interested in the proposal.

Plazek, who is an international relations scholar, says that the model United Nations club provides Lyndon State Students with the unique opportunity to view the world in a more global way. He also says that this club will give college students the chance to explore and understand international relations in a more intellectually mature manner, which he says is needed for young people to succeed in the 21st century.

Taylore Aussiker, an junior animation major at LSC, and the treasurer of the club, says she's glad this club is giving Lyndon the chance to branch out and talk about international problems and how they get solved around the world.

Aussiker says although the group currently only has 12-13 students involved, the numbers should grow once the group starts advertising around Lyndon. The Model UN club is for anybody who is remotely interested in international affairs and wants to learn more about current events.

The club is planning to go to a national conference, based at Harvard University. When the group meets, they will talk about fundraising for that trip, as well as training for what students should expect at the conference.

For more information about the Lyndon Chapter of the Model UN club, contact their faculty advisor, David Plazek.