Giving Closing Remarks as an Outstanding Delegate of the Human Rights Council

Author: Leen Samman | Major: Biology, Psychology | Semester: Fall 2023

Hallo! My name is Leen Samman, and I am a Fulbright College biology-psychology double major with a minor in global studies. This Thanksgiving Break, I embarked on a unique study abroad experience by attending the National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference in Erfurt, Germany, with my fellow 15 classmates and Professor Stapp from Walton School of Business.

This study abroad experience wasn’t a traditional one. I didn’t attend any classes in Germany; all my classes were at the University of Arkansas where Dr. Stapp teaches a course specifically for preparation for the NMUN conference. In the weeks leading up to the class, Dr. Stapp assigned us one of the various UN councils, countries to represent, and partners. These councils include the General Assembly, Security Council, and Human Rights Council. I was assigned the latter. The class equipped me with and improved my research, communication, public speaking, analysis, and global perspectives skills. However, the experiential education the conference offered surpassed the confines of a conventional classroom. Through interaction with others, through hearing their experiences, and through learning and understanding relevant real-world issues, I was able to learn more about myself.

This learning experience began with visits to historically significant places in and around Erfurt, giving us tangible insights into the perspectives and principles the UN holds. The first visit was to the Buchenwald Concentration Camp, a chilling reminder of the atrocities of the past. I vividly remember the little zoo constructed in front of the fence barring the prisoners to essentially taunt them as they slaved away. A zoo. Something you go to for fun as a little kid (or even now) was used as a way to demoralize and dehumanize the prisoners as they watched animals getting better treatment than them. This tour, showing a stark portal of inhumanity, prepared me for my role in the Human Rights Council, emphasizing how appalling a world without humanity can be and how history indeed repeats itself as we watch similar atrocities today.

Our second tour was of the UN Heritage Site, Wartburg Castle. Contributing to its rich culture are legends, art, and significant historical events. One legend is of Louis the Springer, founder of Wartburg. It was said that he transported soil from his land to the top of a hill overlooking Eisenach. This hill was not within “his lands,” but because the castle was to be built on soil brought from home, Louis swore it was justified. Furthermore, Wartburg has beautiful mural depictions of the story of St. Elizabeth, frescoes showing the Contest of Minstrels, and perhaps the most important, Martin Luther’s room, where he translated the New Testament from Greek to German. Another legend described a devil attacking Luther at night, causing him to throw his inkpot in self-defense, which left a stain on the wall. There wasn’t a stain on the wall, I checked.

Our last tour was of Point Alpha, a strategic American military base during the Cold War. Being able to see the difference between East and West Germany and the extent to which geopolitical differences impact people’s lives was shocking. Our tour guide actually witnessed the reunification and shared her personal experiences of the joy felt when reuniting with loved ones from the East.

These tours really grounded us in the “why” of being at the conference. Of doing countless hours of research and preparation for the upcoming three days. During the opening ceremony, the Secretary General presiding over the conference told us that we were all gethated to “build bridges.” To build compassion. To build understanding. To build relationships. To ensure that the things we’ve seen and are seeing regarding world affairs can and should be stopped.

The conference itself unfolded in formal and informal sessions. Formal sessions involved speeches and agenda-setting, while informal sessions provided time to network with delegates, discuss topics, and drafting resolutions. The structure of the conference isn’t important. It was networking with students from Japan, Chile, Germany, and the United States. It was giving speeches in front of a hundred people and absolutely crushing it. It was making meaningful friendships. It was remembering that people are just people.

Furthermore, the personal growth from these interactions really internalized the notion that no one can make me feel inferior unless I allow them to. Competition got fierce during conferences with strong personalities vying for leadership positions, but I found the confidence to assert my place and contribute meaningfully.

Leaving Germany with two outstanding delegation awards and an individual outstanding delegate award was a symbolic victory: we were ready to burn the town down. But these awards pale in comparison to the profound impact NMUN had on shaping my thoughts and aspirations. Through the friendships you make, the world you get to see beyond your academic bubble, and the meaningful work you put in, the conference transforms perspectives and fosters a deeper understanding of global issues, and gives you a place to realize that you have so much to contribute to make the world a better place.