Students Represent at the UN

Nearly 20 Westmont political science students joined professor Katherine Bryant to serve on the National Model United Nations from March 24-28 in New York. The students, who represented the delegations from Solomon Islands and Thailand, discussed pressing global issues and stepped into the shoes of diplomats, using the art of negotiation to learn how to make a difference in the world.

The Thailand delegation was recognized with an Honorable Mention award, a great accomplishment since a few students were working without a partner in their committees. Junior Emma Silver of Ojai, sophomore Emily Lindblad of Edmonds, Washington, and sophomore Ella Oostema of Salt Lake City, Utah, won position paper awards for their succinct policy statement that representing the views of their member state.

“I’m so proud of their hard work and the character they displayed throughout this challenging week,” Bryant says. “They represented Westmont well.”

Despite the cold and rainy weather, the students explored the National September 11 Memorial, the Headquarters of the U.N. and Rockefeller Center on March 28 when presidents Biden, Obama and Clinton were at nearby Radio City Music Hall.