In addition to participating in simulations of global policymaking, numerous students in Pace University’s New York City Model United Nations program have been interning and volunteering with Control Arms, an advocacy coalition calling for a ‘bulletproof’ Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

Model UN students Shant Alexander ’14, Cyrus Ghazanfar ’14, John Ciccarelli ’15 and Katie James ’14, have assisted with press relations, social media, logistics and notetaking at the Diplomatic Conference in July 2012 and the UN General Assembly meeting in the fall. They will be joined by additional student interns who will work with Control Arms at the upcoming second Diplomatic Conference 18-28 March.

Their efforts were covered on the front page of the Pace Press, the student newspaper, this week. Read the story here.

“Engaging in Model United Nations simulations prepares students for working in the global policymaking arena through hands-on training in diplomacy, research, public speaking and writing,” said Dr. Matthew Bolton, Pace New York City Model UN faculty advisor.

“However, the weakness or risk of Model UN is that participants fixate on the intricacies of the simulation itself, losing sight of its purpose — to raise awareness of global issues and the international institutions set up to manage them. At Pace we are trying to give students direct interaction with actual policymaking.”

Located only two express subway stops from the iconic United Nations complex on the East River, Pace University’s New York City Model UN program has a 60-year history of excellence in regional, national and international conferences. Model UN at Pace is uniquely integrated into the Political Science curriculum within the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences and aims to encourage students to develop wisdom, knowledge, skills and community for global citizenship and vocation.