Discussion about some of the world’s biggest issues are being tackled by high school students at the annual Model United Nation conference underway at the University of Oregon April 9-11. participants are using pre-written resolutions to debate with various Oregon high school students.

Earlier in the year, students chose their committees and wrote two research papers on a different topic relevant to their committee. “I love learning about international issues, and I hope that once more people gain knowledge about issues, countries will be better able to get along,” said sophomore Michiko Hunter, part of the global security committee.

MUN simulates what an actual United Nations meeting is like. “I did M.U.N. last year, and I can’t wait to go back to the conference,” sophomore member Kate LeBlanc said. “I think it’s really important to talk about these issues, but the events at the conference are a lot of fun, too.”

The events LeBlanc is referring to include a photo booth, karaoke, a Velcro wall, a bungee run, and a gladiator joust.

Sign-ups for MUN is typically during early winterStudents choose the committee they want to be in, and then write two research papers. The committee options are: security council, global security, global economics, human rights, environment, and health and human services. Each committee is comprised of four people, and each person has one of the four different countries that the school is assigned.

Each committee focuses on a few more specific topics, said MUN adviser and science teacher Blair Haddon. For example, security council focuses on failed peacekeeping; global security looks more closely at drone warfare, and illegal drug trafficking; global economics studies economic inequality; human rights looks into torture and punishment, and human trafficking; the environment group focuses on air pollution, and illegal trade in wildlife; health and human services deals with education in areas of conflict, and food safety. There are also two general assemblies. General Assembly One examines millenium development goals, and General Assembly Two addresses combating corruption in developing countries. Students will be debating and discussing all of these issues.

Haddon is the only adult leader of MUN Student leaders include senior Elise Beck, junior Nawaal Imam, and Amy. “The thing I’m most excited about is probably the placards we get,” Hunter said.