Baylor Students Compete in American Model United Nations Conference

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WACO, Texas (Dec. 12, 2013) - Fourteen Baylor students traveled to Chicago Nov. 23 to 26 to participate in the American Model United Nations Conference, where more than 1,000 college students from across the country participate in a simulation of the United Nations.
During the conference, the Baylor team represented the nation of Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian country, and negotiated issues including counter-terrorism strategies, abolishing malaria, promoting science and technology for development, eliminating torture and promoting children's rights.
Through negotiations with other "countries," resolutions were reached and presented to the floor for debate with at least 20 percent endorsement from the delegates.
Tiffany Clark, a master's student in international relations at Baylor, has participated in five collegiate model UN conferences and said the team worked to set a high standard at the conference.
"Baylor is a smaller team compared to some of the other schools represented at AMUN, but we worked hard to be leaders in all the committees," she said.
Clark was elected the president of the International Court of Justice committee at the conference, which required her to guide the group through their deliberations as they crafted opinions in three cases.
"I was honored to be elected president...and even more honored to work with committee members who were incredibly bright and had researched the cases very thoroughly," she said.
Tyler Kopas, a senior professional selling major and the head delegate for the Baylor model UN team, was recognized as "Outstanding Delegate" by his committee, the highest award that an individual student can receive at the conference.
The team's faculty advisor, Rebecca Flavin, is a lecturer in political science at Baylor and holds tryouts for the team each semester. She looks for students who have the "whole package," which includes the ability to research, debate, communicate clearly and work well in a team. This semester's team was chosen from more than 30 students who tried out for a spot in the group.
In the spring, Baylor Model UN will travel to the Second Annual Howard Payne University Security Council Simulation in Brownwood, Texas, and the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City.
by Kristen Bennett, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
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Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference