UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 14 -- For the second straight year, hundreds of high school students from throughout Western Pennsylvania will convene at the University of Pittsburgh's William Pitt Union, Monday, Oct. 26 to discuss internationally provocative issues that continue to transform global policies.

The Model United Nations Conference is sponsored by Pitt's University Center for International Studies in conjunction with the World Federalist Association Pittsburgh Chapter and the United Nations Association of Pittsburgh. The day-long session begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 5 p.m.

Model UN is designed to give high school students the opportunity to participate in mock sessions of the United Nations General Assembly and other councils incorporating the actual political issues of the countries the students represent.

The students will assume roles of UN diplomats serving on committees of the UN and discuss controversial issues facing the world community within the formal context of a UN simulation. The objective is to arrive at resolutions, which then will be received by the "General Assembly."

 This year's sessions seek to address disarmament and international security issues, human rights and concerns relating to the World Health Organization. Nearly 250 students from 18 area schools are planning to participate. The schools are: South Park, Baldwin, Butler, Washington, Fox Chapel, Gateway, Sto-Rox, Charleroi, Franklin Regional, Union Area, Wilmington Area, Bethel Park, Winchester Thurston, Freedom Area, South Fayette, Shaler, Belle Vernon and Allderdice.

University of Pittsburgh students will participate as committee moderators and mentors.

For more information, see the Model UN home page: www.pitt.edu/~modelun or call 412-648-7397.

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