Model United Nations
"Together we aspire, together we achieve"

Evaluation of the 1978 NMUN Experience
Country:  India

 The National Model United Nations is one of the better courses that Rider has to offer its students.  The course involves both a thorough knowledge of the structure and workings of the UN and in-depth research in the foreign policy of a country our school will be representing.  But this course also involves other aspects which are important to the education of the student.

 The most important aspect is the experience the student gains in the area of public speaking.  This is one area that no student can gain enough experience in.  Another important aspect of NMUN is the experience it provides the student in group discussion and debate.  Finally, the NMUN serves to teach the student about professionalism.

 I feel that any student who wishes to take NMUN for three years should be allowed to do so.  Every year the course changes:  the country the team represents changes; the committee one is on may change; the topics of concern change; the people one deals with in New York change; and the team itself changes.  This makes the NMUN unique when judging it against any other course at Rider.

 Our effectiveness at NMUN would surely be damaged if students were only allowed to return for one year.  Part of our strength in the NMUN lies in the ability of our third year members to gain position in New York like Committee Chairman or President of the General Assembly.  Although a case may be made that second year students can also get elected to these positions, the fact is that second year students would not do half as well as third year students in these positions because they would lack the expertise necessary to work effectively in one of these positions.  Our third year students excel in the positions they are elected to because they have the benefit of two-years experience and they have an excellent knowledge of the rules of procedure.
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James Boyle:

 The great advantage of National Model United Nations over other courses of equal credit is that it gives the participant an opportunity to apply political and theoretical principles in a pressure environment.  The course gave me not only the opportunity to expand my knowledge but to test my character.  The confident way in which NMUN members have handled themselves in the New York conference is not only a tribute to the team members but to the program here at Rider College.

 The much larger effort that students put into NMUN, as compared to other courses, is worthwhile based on the very tangible results that effort produces in New York.  The lengthy meetings and simulations that go on prior to the trip are very worthwhile, in fact, vital to the success of the team.  NMUN is a very effective laboratory in international political affairs.

 The three credits that go with the course are in this opinion, somewhat inconsequential, except in one sense.  Although I think team members should be willing to participate on a non-credit basis, it would be almost impossible for them to devote themselves intensely to NMUN were it not part of their academic schedule.  The academic well-being of a student taking a full schedule while participating in NMUN would be put seriously in jeopardy.  Frankly, the course makes the student earn his three credits.
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Debbie Camadine:

 I feel that I received many benefits from being on the NMUN.  I now know much more about the UN itself and its many and diverse workings.  I also feel that I have learned to work better with people as a group by serving on the team and being in a committee.

 In comparison to other 3-credit courses, I believe I put more work into the NMUN than any other course this semester because of the short time span used to prepare.  I did quite a bit of research both here at Rider and at Princeton.  I read many articles about my particular topic because it was one that was very new to me.  I wanted to go to New York City as prepared as I possibly could be in order to benefit the team.
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Raymond Cantor:

 Starting with academically, I derived much from NMUN.  For five morning-to-midnight days I sat in on committees discussing complicated economic matters, on a global scale, and I participated in and learned from those discussions.  As a result of that I have learned to a vast extent the problem of the present economic order and the need for a new one.  I have learned the problem of commodities on the world market, the need for buffer stocks on certain commodities, and in particular, the need for and the means to establish and operate a common fund.  I feel that I have acquired a near expert knowledge of what goes on in a UN negotiating committee, and a good perception of the general workings of the UNCTAD part of the UN, and of the UN itself.

 In addition to this I learned what it feels like to be a poor third world nation, how it feels to work with other countries to solve a world problem, to think you have a consensus on a viable solution and then see it shot down by the US.  I learned to compromise and compromise until I could no more, and found out it still was not enough for the power and dollar hungry Americans.  I even learned why there is hate for my country [the USA] and I learned that I could sympathize with that hate.  I learned a lot.

 Socially and otherwise I met dozens of people, made many friends, and had a overall great time in my stay in New York, and I am looking forward to next year.

 During the earlier months the NMUN is less work but as time passed I put much more time into NMUN than any other class.
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Bill Danylik:

 I feel that I have gained more from NMUN than any other single course I have attended at Rider.  I have gained a better understanding of current events and their impact upon different countries of the world.  I learned the workings of the UN.  I saw how international relations are carried on, and came to understand why it can take so much time for the UN to act sometimes.  Besides academics, I gained a social experience which has been unequaled in my life.  I met and got to know people of greatly diverse backgrounds.

 The NMUN took much more effort than most courses.  It required me to acquire a working knowledge of my group along with a general knowledge of the rest of our country.

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Douglas S. Frank:

 I feel that I have benefited much from participating in the 1978 NMUN project.  One of the goals of this project is to teach the participants about the foreign policy goals of another nation. I personally feel that I now know the policies of India well and can appreciate its international actions on a much higher level than I did before the start of this project.

 Another goal is the understanding of international organizations; participation in the simulation allowed me greater understanding of the machinery of the UN in general, and the General Assembly Plenary in particular, than had I just studied it in a book or classroom.  Indeed, the main value of the NMUN project is the direct involvement of the participants in the simulations so that they may learn international organization first-hand.

 On a social level the program allowed me to meet students from all types of higher-learning institutions from across the nation and to share this experience with them.  It also allowed me to spread the name and reputation of Rider College across the nation.

 In comparison to other 3-credit courses, I would have to say that I devoted much more time and effort to the NMUN than any classroom situation.  In meeting time alone here at Rider about as much time was spent in sessions over the Fall 1977 semester, 1978 ISP, and the first part of the Spring 1978 semester as is spent in class for normal 3-credit courses.
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Joanne Freund:

 Participation in NMUN provided me with a much better understanding of the problems encountered in any attempt at international negotiation.  I learned that the greatest tool in working towards true international peace and security is compromise, and also that the foreign policy of each of the 149 nations in the United Nations is different, in varying degrees, from any of the other 148 nations' foreign policy.  My experience with NMUN also helped me to develop my speaking ability by making it necessary for me to clearly and forcefully express my country's position of the various topics which were discussed.

 While doing the research required for my assignment as India's delegate to the Security Council, I gained a great deal of knowledge about current world problems, and I also learned many interesting facts about India and her role in international politics.

 I benefited also by the very experience of researching my topics.  It required much independent effort.  Since the course did not have strictly structured assignments, I was responsible not only for knowing the material but also for finding where the information was available from among many possible sources.  This searching was often a challenge, but it was a challenge which I enjoyed meeting.

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Howard Goren:

 I feel NMUN has a number of benefits to offer students participating in the project.  First of all the students must learn to do extensive research on the country assigned to them for simulation as well as for the country that the delegation is representing.  The student also has the opportunity to improve his public speaking under some pressure.  Students involved must learn to use research facilities other than Rider's.  It is also a great interpersonal experience in that you have the chance to interact with students from all over the country.  Finally the student has the chance to represent Rider in a national conference.

 I believe when one counts the amount of hours put into NMUN it is of equal time that students put into other courses.  It is true that the course ends in mid-semester but we start preparing for the conference in May with weekly meetings starting in November.  I firmly believe that NMUN is worthy of three credits.

 This is a project which begins in May and ends in either March or April.  Position papers and detailed resolutions are required of students.  When one counts the hours while in New York the amount of time spent on NMUN becomes immerse.  The students are evaluated on their performance at Rider as well as in New York.  I once again will state that NMUN is worth three credits.

 I feel if NMUN is limited to two years it would be a gross miscarriage of educational justice.  Every year is a different learning experience.  We have a different country every year so the preparation becomes completely different.  Granted we may do some things the same way but that is the same thing in every course.  Students may be learning different material but they still study the same way and they write reports the same way,  they just use different material.  This is the same way in which NMUN is handled.  I do believe that a third year member should be in a leadership role.

 As a delegation leader I would have to admit that an individual to do an effective job must be completely aware of the course and I don't believe that is possible until the third year.  On my three years on the team the delegation leaders have always been third year members which I believe is a strong reason for its success.  Finally, if a student is allowed for his third year he should be granted at least three credits.  This is because in many cases he is teaching new members as well as preparing the full team.
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David J. Hall:

 The benefits gained from the NMUN experience, regardless of the year, cover both ends of the spectrum.  That is to say, there are both educational (academic) and personal experiences to be gained.

 Academically the project was worthwhile in the sense that, this course allows for a concentrated and in-depth study of the UN and its affiliated committees and organizations.  I feel one obtains a better working knowledge and appreciation of the UN than any text-book taught courses offered.  Textbook courses provide good background - NMUN provides the experience.

 The personal aspects obtained from the NMUN experience centers around the ideals of personal growth.  That is, personal growth obtained by exercising and taxing your intellectual abilities to their limit; and then surpassing those preconceived limits.  One also grows through the development of interpersonal relationships with not only team members but also with some of the 1,400 students in attendance.

 In conclusion, NMUN as a whole offers what college is supposed to offer: intellectual and personal experiences.
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Ian Johns:

 The NMUN project enabled me to learn, in depth, much of the structure and organization of the UN.  This includes not only an overview of the major organs and their purposes, but a detailed, working knowledge of the functions and issues of some committees and commissions.  I learned some of India's positions concerning foreign policy, especially in Social Development.

 In New York, I had the opportunity to determine the relations between countries and various differences and similarities in social programs and agencies.  As a Psychology major, I realize the importance of independent research and study.  This was a great opportunity to choose a topic and research it with some definite goal as a "reward" besides three graded credits.

 I think the time and effort devoted to NMUN was only slightly more than that required for most three credit electives.  However, it was much more intense due to the fact that this work had to be completed in just 8-10 weeks in order to be prepared for New York.

 Despite the lack of lecture-type instruction, the educational value of a course like this is great.  Through individual research, we learned at least as much as we would have in a comparable classroom course.  Being able to work at our own pace and being imbued with a "team spirit" kept most of us more interested than any lecture would.
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Tina Lewis:
 A deeper understanding of the United Nations and international organizations in general, particularly the development and coordination of the mission of the United Nations with respect to the ideals embodied by the Charter of the United Nations.

 Increased knowledge of and identification with the problems facing the country our team represented (India) as well as the assigned simulation country.

 Practical experience in the workings of international relations, greater understanding of cooperative effort and action through caucusing.

 Better communication skills; self-development in persuasive communication, greater ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds, increased understanding of techniques of debate.

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Lauren Sally:

 The NMUN project encompasses a variety of educational experiences.

 Academically, I learned how the UN functions, including such topics as Parliamentary procedure and the purpose of the various organs, etc.  I studied the political, economic and social aspects of India and, more specifically, transnational corporations.  I had the chance to learn information, but, more importantly, apply it at the conference.  This gave me practical experience, while at the same time, showing myself and others how much I had learned.

 Socially, it gave me the chance to meet with people from all over the country.  I gained experience and confidence when speaking to a group, while effectively persuading and compromising with others.  I came away with a vast understanding of the UN, India, international relations and transnational corporations.