About Model UN
The Old Dominion University Model United Nations Society was established in 1977 by a group of Old Dominion University students who were interested in International Affairs. The main purpose was to promote further understanding of the United Nations, international issues, and the global community. The first faculty advisor of the society was Dr. Jerome B. Bookin-Weiner.
The first High School Conference was held in 1978 in Old Dominion University's Webb Center with about 60 students coming from regional high schools and a secretariat of three Old Dominion University students. In 1984, the High School Conference was held in a hotel for the first time as the number of participating students exceeded 500. By 1988, the ODUMUN High School Conference was attended by 81 high schools coming from 10 U.S. States and counting more then 1000 participating students.
The society and its activities grew along with the years through the dedication of its members and countless others. Amongst them is Dr. Jean-Bernard Gazarian, who first participated as a guest speaker in the 6th Edition of the ODUMUN High School Conference in 1983 and has remained since a loyal friend to the society and its members. The Society also hosted 16 similar collegiate conferences and participated in various Model U.N. Conferences around the world. Amongst others, the society went to Egypt in 1994 to participate in the Cairo International Model U.N. Conference; and in 1997, three ODUMUN students were selected to be Secretary-General, President of the General Assembly and President of the Security Council for the European International Model United Nations Conference in The Hague, Netherlands.
In 1997, under the leadership of Prof. Maria Fornella-Oehninger and Prof. Philip Neil of Stellenbosch, the society traveled to South Africa and participated in a joint simulation of the Security Council at the University of Stellenbosch. During the academic year 2001-2002, James Ryan Grizzle, a former society President, was elected to be the Secretary-General for the 2002 edition of The European International Model United Nations Conference, which took place in The Hague, Netherlands. Society members won three prestigious awards at the XXV University of Pennsylvania Model United Nations Conference, competing against such schools as Harvard, McGill, West Point and others. The society also helped one of its students Ms. Zaruhi Harutunyan to establish the first Model U.N. Conference in Yerevan, Armenia, in October 2001. The Society also participated to the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City in March 2002.
In 2002 Jean-Philippe Gobeil-Jobidon and James Ryan Grizzle were selected to occupy the positions of Under-Secretary-General for Conference Services and Assistant-Chief of Staff of the 1st UNA-USA High School Conference, which took place in New York City, May 1-5, 2002. In July 2002, a group of five students, accompanied by Mr. Fred Warren attended the XV European International Model United Nations Conference in The Hague, Netherlands, where Mr. James Ryan Grizzle held the position of Secretary-General, the third member of ODUMUN to be selected for this position. Following this conference, the Society traveled to Sarranda, Albania to staff the First Albanian Youth Model United Nations Conference (AYMUN), sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
The ODU MUN Society has become a regular participant of the European International Model United Nations Conference in the Netherlands, having sent a delegation in July 2005 and
2006, and 2007. The Society also attends conferences at the University of Pennsylvania, where in November 2005 two of the officers, Chris Pearson and Matthew Grizzle, received accolades for their participation, and the National conference held in New York. Society members have also been known to participate in the Model Arab League conference in South Carolina, where Matthew Grizzle and Carolyn Veloria were recognized for outstanding performances.
