Riverview High School Model UN students continue to impress

Imagine a universe in which Richard Nixon succeeds in a nefarious plan to become president a decade and a half earlier than he did in real life.

Riverview High School senior Naomi Girson developed such a scenario in her portrayal of the nation’s then-vice president during the University of Michigan’s 36th annual Model United Nations conference in January.

As Nixon, she joined a room full of students taking roles of prominent — and in some cases, historically notorious — figures in a simulation of the 1950s’ anti-communist House Un-American Activities Committee. Her inventive take on Nixon prompted observers to name her the second-place outstanding delegate.

“They want you to be creative with it,” she said. “That’s kind of their favorite part.”

Girson scored another second-place honor in a simulation of the crisis that erupted in 1983 when the Soviet Union’s radar falsely reported the launch of U.S. intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Her teammates from Riverview performed impressively as a whole, earning two first-place individual awards, another second-place and a fourth-place. Overall, the high school took the Best Small Delegation Award, the second Riverview has earned at conferences this academic year, and the team now has 32 total awards for 2022-23.

Model United Nations, which is not affiliated with the actual UN, provides students with the opportunity to represent countries, organizations or people as they participate in activities such as formulating position papers, creating policy proposals and debating their stances, all in the name of promoting a better understand of the world at large.

In Michigan, Girson took part in Model UN “crisis committees,” in which students work their way toward finding solutions through direct actions. In Nixon’s case, she had him thwart opposition to anti-communist “witch hunts,” as his political enemies called them, by ascending to the presidency.

‘Through someone else’s eyes’

At the heart of Model UN are the committees that aim at replicating the environment within the United Nations’ General Assembly, with students portraying representatives of various governments in attempting to hash out their differences.

“You spend time acting that role and believing that role, actually representing that person or that country,” Riverview social studies teacher Ken Kubistek said. “You are giving yourself an opportunity to see the world through someone else’s eyes, and that’s so very important in the world today.”

As sponsor of the high school’s Model UN team since its inception 21 years ago, Kubistek credits its success to the members’ dedication.

“Without their desire and their passion, there’s no team,” he said. “Students have to want to learn about the political structures of the rest of the world. And they need to have the empathy in what’s happening to other people.”

Kylie Longstreth, another Riverview senior, has taken on the roles of quite a few countries during Model UN simulations.

“I’ve gotten the opportunity to think with the perspective of other nations, which takes a lot of skill that you develop,” she said. “You kind of have to set aside your own feelings on a certain topic.”

Beyond getting a grasp on the nuances of international relations, she views Model UN as benefiting other aspects of students’ lives.

“Not only are you able to improve your public speaking and thinking on your feet, but you also have to know how to communicate with others, people you’ve never met before,” Longstreth said. “I’m involved with the musical at our school, and I’ve found that participating in Model UN has helped me with my stage presence, too, because it adds a level of confidence, that you are able to do things publicly.”

‘Application of the skills we learn’

Junior Georgia Tsambis, a first-place winner in Michigan for a role involving the ongoing civil war in Yemen, agreed.

“I think the biggest thing, for me, from Model UN is the application of the skills we learn into our daily lives, whether that be in the classroom setting or even communicating with adults, in general,” she said. “Being a younger person in the world, sometimes you’re not taken as seriously. Not being able to communicate with the people around you can impact your advantages or your standpoint in how people see you.”

Senior Olivia Wilton cites the Yemeni Civil War, the origins of which date back nearly two decades ago, as an example of a devastating situation — an estimated 150,000 people have died — that draws little attention in this country. Her Model UN involvement has enhanced her knowledge significantly.

“There are a lot of huge crises going on around the world that I had no idea about,” she said. “I found myself to be kind of clueless when it comes to affairs outside of the United States. So when you’re forced to research about it, I found it really helpful.”

Alanna Wachocki, another 12th grader, expressed a similar viewpoint.

“Personally, I think we’re not as globally aware as we should be,” she said. “Researching current events, and watching seminars about some of the most obscures topics that we never hear about in school, teaches patience and sympathy and empathy.”

For senior Declan Hawk, Model UN participation has led to improvement in an essential skill.

“To go to any of our conferences, we have to write an in-depth paper about the background of the issue we’re going to focus on and our country’s perspective on it. With doing that research, it gives you the opportunity to dive in,” he said.

“I feel like this gives me an edge in other classes. We have to do research for projects for them, and it gives me a more general knowledge of how to do it right, and what sources are more valuable and trustworthy than others.”

‘Very important to educate ourselves’

A second-place winner in Michigan for her role in a simulation of the Nicaraguan president’s cabinet, junior Callie Harden emphasized the Model UN’s public-speaking aspect and its emphasis on formal presentations.

“You have a very good ability to gain respect in your room, and whenever you’re respected, people listen to you more and your ideas are trusted,” she said. “It also makes you understand people’s perspectives.”

For Tsambis, the program represents a path toward a better tomorrow.

“Model UN teaches you to be an active global citizen. I think a lot of us say, ‘Oh, well, 10 years down the line, this and this and this might happen. But it’s not going to affect me, so I’m just going to turn a blind eye or turn my head,’ ” she said.

“But if we all sit there not doing anything about what’s happening in our world, nothing’s going to get done, and eventually it is going to be our problem. And I think it’s very important to educate ourselves and understand what’s going on, whether that be a smaller issue or something that’s impacting us daily, because, as we see, history tends to repeat itself.”

Riverview’s other awards in Michigan were earned by sophomores Drew Ogrodowski, first-place best delegate, and Carter Loughren, fourth-place verbal commendation. Also attending were senior Joey Inzinga and juniors Lola Abraham and Brandon Williams.

The team looks for continued success as nine members travel to the University of Toronto on Feb. 9-12, and the entire group participates at the Duquesne University conference Feb. 17. In March, six seniors will attend a conference in Rome.