History

In 1989, Blackburn College made a commitment to offer a unique, Model United Nations experience to high school students throughout Central Illinois. Each year high school social science faculty members are invited to assemble a delegation of their students and attend the Central Illinois High School Model United Nations Conference held at Blackburn. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2006.

Model United Nations simulations are designed to teach students how the United Nations operates, what the important issues facing the world are, and most importantly, how countries perceive these issues differently based on their political cultures, national interests and national experiences. There are hundreds of Model United Nations simulations run each year in the United States and throughout the world at the college and high school level.

The simulation at Blackburn offers several benefits. It is designed to give students opportunities to do serious research on their topics and their assigned country’s position. The simulation also helps students develop their public speaking and consensus building skills. Finally, the simulation gives students confidence in their abilities to do research, debate, negotiate and to articulate a specific point of view of a country other than their own.