University Hosts Model UN

High school students from across the state gathered at the University of Hartford this past weekend for the 2013 Model United Nations.

The two-day event, which is sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, featured 600 delegates from more than 20 Connecticut high schools. The high school students, representing the member countries of the United Nations,  tackled political, economic, humanitarian, and environmental issues.

This year’s issues included the UN response to the violence in Syria, the effect of the Eurozone crisis on worldwide economic security, access to clean water and sanitation, and sustainable urbanization.

University President Walter Harrison delivered the welcoming address to the students on Friday afternoon in Lincoln Theater. A number of members of the University community helped to organize this year’s event, including Christine Grant, manager of corporate and community relations; President Emeritus Humphrey Tonkin and volunteers from the Presidents' College; Associate Professor Michael Clancy, chair of the Department of Politics and Government, along with students from Politics and Government; and staff members from Media Technology Services, the Registrar’s Office; and the Office of Student Affairs.