News Release

Model U.N. returns to campus for 37th year

February 19, 2009

One of Penn State Harrisburg’s longest-running and successful outreach partnerships with the community – the Model United Nations – comes to campus for the 37th consecutive year February 19 through 21.

More than 200 delegates from 15 area high schools will represent 67 nations during the three-day educational which features the Thursday evening keynote address by Misha Darchiashvili, the Senior Counselor for Political Affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Georgia for the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 6 p.m. event in the Capital Union Building will feature Darchiashvili speaking about the ongoing conflict between Georgia and the Russian Federation.

Since its inception on campus, the Model U.N. has brought more than 10,000 students to Penn State Harrisburg as part of the college’s extensive commitment to share its resources and partner with area school districts to provide educational opportunities for students.

Participating high schools this year are: Bensalem, Lancaster Catholic, Central Dauphin East, Northern York, Northeastern York, Boiling Springs, Red Land, Palmyra, Bishop McDevitt, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg Academy, Central Dauphin, York Country Day, East Pennsboro, and Northern Lebanon.

"Highlight issues for 2009 include disarmament, terrorism and international security, slavery and involuntary servitude, population growth, refugees, human rights, the global economic crisis, world hunger, genocide, piracy on the high seas, Israel and Palestine, and human rights," says retired Penn State Harrisburg faculty member Clem Gilpin.

The driving force behind the event since he brought it to campus in 1973, Gilpin adds, "The annual program gives high school students the opportunity to become delegates and represent a member nation of the U.N. Before coming to Penn State Harrisburg for the three-days, the students must research the issues and familiarize themselves with the social and political climate of their chosen nation and be prepared to effectively argue their points."

The opening ceremonies will be followed by the first committee sessions and a Security Council Session. The 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday schedule includes four committee sessions, five Security Council sessions, and issue briefings. "The briefing sessions on Friday will bring teams of students from the U.S. Army War College who will conduct two sessions each on topics including Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine, Russia/Georgia, and international terrorism," Gilpin adds.

Saturday gets underway at 9:30 a.m. and features committee, Security Council, and General Assembly sessions with closing ceremonies at 3:45 p.m.