Senior criminal justice sciences major and politics and government minor Kaitlyn Goodrum has always been curious about how the world works on a global scale. Goodrum feels that Americans tend to be blind to what happens in other parts of the world because we are consumed with our own issues, so she decided that the best way to grasp how other countries handle their issues (such as hunger and environmental problems) was to become a member of the Model UN.
Kaitlyn Goodrum
In order to become a member of the Model UN, Goodrum had to take POL 252 – International Organizations, taught by Professor of Politics and Government Noha Shawki. Students must take this class in the fall semester in order to participate in the Model UN during the following spring semester. Shawki requires her students to type up a personal statement about why they want to be a part of the Model UN. She also takes into consideration the student’s academic performance in class and overall GPA. She chooses 12 students from the class to participate. Each student has his or her own role to play. During the spring semester, each student is assigned to a different subcommittee that deals with a variety of international issues.
The first two months of the spring semester will consist of intense research on the country to which the students are assigned. During the last week of March, Model UN will be held in New York City at the United Nations headquarters. Students from universities all over the world will be coming as delegates for their assigned country. After that week, the students will return to ISU to conclude the class.
Goodrum plans to go to law school after she graduates in May of 2016. While she hasn’t decided whether she wants to go into criminal or international law, she can see herself working for the UN or possibly the International Court of Justice. She wants the opportunity to fight for justice at the international level, and give a voice to those who have never had one.
