News archives 2010-2021

Model UN reception, conference success

March 4, 2019

University Relations

UAF students John Gentry, Joshua Navarro, Emma Ashlock, Matthew Wrobel and Malikah Hughes were the Russia delegates during the Model U.N. council meeting in February 2019. Photo by Denae Benson.
UAF students John Gentry, Joshua Navarro, Emma Ashlock, Matthew Wrobel and Malikah Hughes were the Russia delegates during the Model U.N. council meeting in February 2019. Photo by Denae Benson.


UAF's Model United Nations student club will have speakers and host a reception Tuesday, March 5, from noon-2 p.m. in the Wood Center multilevel lounge. The event is in honor of International Women’s Day, which is on Friday, March 8.

The club participated in the 37th Annual Model United Nations Conference at UAA from February 21-23. Eight UAF students participated, representing Russia, Saudi Arabia and the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, or RAIPON.

The students representing Russia successful promoted resolutions pertaining to the fight against polio, measles and ebola, and to the dispute with Canada and Denmark over Arctic waters. The groups was also named “best culturally dressed.”

UAF students Denae Benson, Cameron Blood and Bernard Aoto served as the Saudi Arabian delegation at a Model U.N. Council meeting in February 2019. Photo courtesy of Denae Benson.
UAF students Denae Benson, Cameron Blood and Bernard Aoto served as the Saudi Arabian delegation at a Model U.N. Council meeting in February 2019. Photo courtesy of Denae Benson.


The students representing Saudi Arabia settled disputes over the Strait of Hormuz. They also defended against charges of crimes against humanity in the death of Jamal Khashoggi, and against charges of war crimes for their economic and military support of terrorist organizations.

The RAIPON delegate garnered support from other nations and Indigenous groups to expand rights to 41 Indigenous groups in the North, Serbia and the Far East.

For more information on UAF’s Model U.N. club, contact Brandon Boylan, faculty advisor, at bmboylan@alaska.edu, or Bernard Aoto, the club’s president, at baoto@alaska.edu.