The ISU Model United Nations approached the GSB during the Feb. 19 meeting, requesting funds for their trip to the Chicago Model United Nations conference.

Sen. David Parkinson, president of the Model UN, approached the podium, requesting funding to address transportation concerns as the organization sends 20 delegates to the conference.

There was some debate regarding the group’s request for a suburban, and ultimately GSB amended their bill and granted funding for a minivan only.

Following the meeting, Gabrielle Williams, speaker of the senate and vice president of the group, and Parkinson described the event and the function of Model UN.

“In the past we’ve just been a club that goes to conferences, and now we’re looking to expand past that, especially by bringing more students into our club,” Parkinson said.

Both senators commented on the growth of the club, noting the addition of multiple majors beyond political science.

Williams explained the events within the club, detailing the formation of committees to handle issues of terrorism, financial crises, child labor, energy crises and other major topics.

“It’s political in nature, but so is everything that everyone is going to do. We think it’s important that everyone gets an experience,” Williams said.

Parkinson mentioned plans regarding a local high school conference to be hosted by MUN, to share knowledge gained from the American Model United Nations International and Chicago Model United Nations.

Parkinson and Williams discussed American Model UN, the major international conference also held in Chicago in the fall, where students represent various countries and join one of five committees led by real UN delegates. MUN at Iowa State attends the four-day conference regularly, going last fall with 18 members and acting as Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan.

Williams explained the events of the conference, detailing how the delegates must do enough research to understand what their nations did in the past and how to act accordingly.

“You become a delegate of that country, you need to thoroughly understand how their society works and how their government would act,” Parkinson said.

This semester, the group will be attending Chicago Model UN for the first time. Chicago Model UN is the more competitive side of American Model UN, pitting various committees and nations in forming blocs and passing resolutions regarding historical crises and events.

“It’s like a game, who’s prepared the most and what can you bring to the table to really network with people,” Williams said.