Over 450 area students convene NCMUN

CHAMPLAIN | High School students, over 450 of them, convened discussion in North Country Model United Nations (NCMUN) committees. Seated in seven large rooms, the youth remained attentive to their peers, professional and present. Difficult topics drew urgent review with respect. In its 47th session this year, NCMUN pulled teams from 15 area schools under one roof to consider issues very much a part of today's world and their future. Youth from grades 8 to 12 are part of Model UN programs or clubs in their schools. There were 150 nations represented in this year's model and seven councils. Adopting perspective true to a country's strength and ambition, they learn how to resolve conflict and challenges affecting a global dynamic. Committee topics focused on human rights of people facing censorship; nuclear proliferation in the Middle East; political polarization causing global tension; a framework for an international intelligence agency; and the effect of microplastics in the food chain. These concerns were presented against a backdrop of budgetary constraint, language, technology limitations and increased use of Artificial Intelligence, among other factors. Young scholars formed a Model UN Press Corps, and the special Historical Committee convened to resolve events from the Invasion of Troy. The teens collaborated and compromised, presented positions to their peers and spent hours finalizing working papers. Through stages of debate, they formed blocs of nations that moved from four to two blocs as they reached solutions. Presented before committee, resolutions with the most delegate votes were adopted. SECRETARIES GENERAL Conference proceedings are organized months ahead by co-secretaries general and a secretariat panel of two students leading each committee. Co-secretaries general of the 47th NCMUN, Grace McCarty and Carter Fredette, are both seniors at Northeastern Clinton Central School. Both attended two sessions of Harvard Model UN. "Over 100 students representing 80 countries are in the Political Committee," Fredette said of this year's turnout. "Some are in their first year, and others in their fourth year or more." For McCarty, preparation was about detail: "I enjoy a lot of the nitty-gritty work," she said, "like editing the study guides, scheduling the rooms. I built our website. My work is more behind the scenes." "I'm more about the presentation," Fredette said, "I like theatre, so for me it's about out front coordination." Fredette hopes to attain his bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism from American University in Washington, D.C. McCarty's goal is moving toward government studies in a pre-law track. Introducing each committee, Fredette outlined how delegates engage debate to attain majority decision. They reject some ideas, soften others, and address new questions, building on points of agreement. "Public speaking is important, 100 percent," he said of the process. "Being able to talk in front of others is one of the most important things we do." For McCarty, tools for compromise are central to NCMUN proceedings, learning how to listen and understand what other people are saying. "You have to be able to listen to other people and maintain an equal level of respect," she said. Each committee faces unknown challenges as part of NCMUN planning. Events are tossed into discussion as a surprise addition, such as ouster of a nation's leader or an act of war. Delegates said these challenges can shift discussion and reorder an entire bloc of nations, reshuffling priorities. "I think what we learn as countries is there is much more that brings us together than what divides us," Fredette said. McCarty agreed. "We learn that everything does not have to be a fight." RADICALIZATION In the Political Committee, Amaya Ater, a ninth grader from AuSable Valley Central School, was working to address tensions caused by political radicalization. In their model, she said, Ukraine dissected the threat into three parts: internal tensions, threats from border countries and global response. The solution they were considering, she said, was mediation through routine meetings. "We would start small with a monthly meeting for as many countries who want to join. In this way, we would try to solve disagreements in a much calmer, safer way and avoid war," Ater said. One idea cut from working papers, she said, was to have each country face others one-on-one, without backup. "So organizations like NATO would not exist," Ater said. "The committee rejected that right away." Ambassadors in her bloc agreed that social norms help contain radicalization through education and assistance for citizens struggling with difficult situations, such as homelessness or unemployment. MORE THAN DEBATE In the Political Committee, Boquet Valley Central School's NCMUN team started by trying first to understand each nation's goals, what they need and what they offer. This year was the second Model UN proceeding for KK Miller and the fourth for Braden Liberi, who was cooperating in a bloc built between the Russian Federation, Egypt and Australian. "It's about more than just the debate," he said. "Model UN is about coming together and finding common ground. "And meeting other kids from other schools is great. It's a chance to bounce ideas off new minds." He said their bloc raised concerns about a framework for multinational meetings, and who would pay for them. Miller said the process shows delegates how to find compromise in different ideas, and how to present those ideas to others. For Boquet Valley Social Studies teacher Pete Castine, the 2025 students were the 21st group he's worked with to prepare for NCMUN. "Carter and Grace have done a fantastic job to provide this opportunity for us," Castine said. CLASHING PERSPECTIVE From Willsboro Central School, longtime friends Kailye Pfund and Danielle Reithel, both seniors, thought it would be great if they took opposing views on the Human Rights Council. They ended up having to defend clashing perspectives, Reithel said. "It's interesting," she said. "We thought we would be comfortable because we went into this being friends." The young women looked at each other, standing shoulder-to-shoulder. "It is a challenge," Pfund said. "We're trying to find a common ground about censorship and create one resolution." Even as an outlier nation on their Human Rights Council began to acquiesce, the script threw an international scandal at them. Having to redirect discussion, Reithel said, "you build collaboration on common goals." NCMUN lessons connect student learning to current events. And North Country students seemed to understand that answers emerge through their ability to communicate, listen and compromise. ..................... STUDENT LED NCCS Superintendent Rob Garrand said NCMUN is their school's signature event hosted by students and staff here annually. NCMUN is approaching its 50th anniversary. "It is something we do here at NCCS that is unique. I'm really proud of what I see," Garrand said. The student advisor for NCMUN is NCCS Social Studies teacher Jason Borrie, who teaches by letting students run the model proceedings. Most school advisors and staff, in fact, were listening intently to debate from the sidelines. If you ask Mr. Borrie what makes their program so successful, he points to the kids. "They come up with the ideas that they need to be working on," he said, simply. "We have 450 students here representing 150 countries, and they create resolutions." A two-day, hands-on set of lessons in global relations, NCMUN is a highly anticipated regional event in March every year. Participating schools this year were: AuSable Valley, Beekmantown, Boquet, Chazy, Keene, Northeastern Clinton, Parishville-Hopkinton, Peru, Plattsburgh, Saranac, Saranac Lake, Schroon, Seton and Willsboro.

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