This year, critical thinking and creative problem-solving will happen at Lafayette High School’s Model United Nations club. The Model UN does exactly what the name describes: students take on the roles of different countries and try to solve real problems. Here at Lafayette, though, the experience goes way beyond traditional debates; this year, they add a touch of intrigue with something different from the usual routine.
But one point out of the many high points will be Lafayette High School’s own called Lafayette High School Model United Nations Conference (LHSMUNC) for short. The mini-conference, other than most of the usual debates of Model UNs, will surround a murder mystery set at FDR Manor. Instead, students would be assigned fictional character roles, which are supposed to work together in finding the mystery amidst various political and diplomatic challenges in the plot. In fact, this creative way will involve students in negotiation, collaboration, and critical thinking while keeping them on their toes as they try to uncover clues and solve the case.
This year at the head of the club stands its new senior president, Xavier Jones. Under his presidency, the MUN team is not only organizing the LHSMUNC, but it is also getting ready to participate in larger conferences. Neil Smith, the historian of the club, keeps track of the club’s advance and works along with Jones to protect both the educational aspects of Model UN and the aspects that are fun as well. Altogether, they are building an environment of participation, learning, and enjoyment.
Besides their in-house event, the Lafayette MUN team has targeted two major conferences. First, there is WAMMUNC—William & Mary Model United Nations Conference—where they will join many students from different regions of the area. It is in this conference that the students of Lafayette will be dressed in their respective roles to represent countries and negotiate on global issues, such as climate change, human rights, and international peace.
The team will next travel to the George Washington University Model United Nations Conference in DC. The well-respected conference will offer the students the opportunity to be actively involved in sophisticated discussions with peers from across the nation. At WUMUNC, Lafayette’s team will debate against some of the finest high school Model UN teams in the country and draft resolutions and fight hard for global causes. This conference will be the first opportunity for most students to try out their diplomatic and public speaking skills in a very competitive setting.
The Model UN club at Lafayette is always evolving, changing to give students a balance of the classic Model UN experience, with some very unique, creative opportunities, such as their murder mystery conference. From solving a fictional crime to discussing real-world issues, students build invaluable life skills in areas that include diplomacy, leadership,
and collaboration—no matter the career path they choose.
Leading this year’s Model UN club at Lafayette High, with Xavier Jones at the helm and historical insights from Neil Smith, will surely make for a pretty interesting year of mystery and diplomacy.
