What is unsa and its mission?

 

UNSA - United Nations Students Association - is a student club at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. This club is composed of individuals who enjoy studying multifarious and diverse political policies, organizations, and cultures, while learning to conciliate others through diplomacy. For years, UNSA has played a pivotal role in John Jay College's student community. This club has established itself as a major organization for the promotion of dignity, human rights and the respect for international legal norms. UNSA member’s mission is to inform the John Jay College community about the issues of the United Nations and international affairs.

Many UNSA members are international students who come to the United States to further their intellectual horizons. Others are native-born Americans or immigrants from numerous parts of the world who continue to nurture interest in international affairs. These students embrace their delegate duties with passion and dedication by attending and taking part in panel discussions, lectures, and many other academic and social events. Moreover, these students are amongst the brightest in school and who also participate in many other extracurricular activities while maintaining a good academic standing.

Unsa events

 

UNSA is intending on being a very active student organization in the coming months.  In the previous years UNSA has been taking part in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference, which is organized by the National Collegiate Conference Association.  This conference takes place in March in New York City and is one of the largest model UN conferences in the US.  It is also of a very competitive nature where the most reputable academic institutions of the world are represented. In the previous years UNSA has represented the Republics of Liechtenstein and Peru at the conference and has successfully won an award. Those UNSA members who participate in this conference usually register it as an independent study course for which they receive three credits.  They are required to write a comprehensive and well-researched paper summarizing their country’s position in the committee they are assigned to.

In October 2003, UNSA members are also scheduled to partake in the Security Council Simulation at Yale University.  This will be the first time that UNSA will be participating in this highly prestigious conference that will take place at the Yale University campus in New Haven, CT.

UNSA has also organized a model United Nations conference for inner city high school students that will take place at John Jay College in the Spring 2004 semester.  This conference is organized with the help of many departments such as the College Now program.

Aside from taking part in model UN conferences, UNSA is also planning on holding lectures, seminars, and panels at John Jay College.  In the Spring 2003 semester, UNSA collaborated with William Paterson University (New Jersey), the Center of International Human Rights, and the Society of International Law, Justice, and Human Rights in holding a panel discussion discussing domestic response to 9/11.  This event was highly successful as it strengthened ties between William Paterson University and John Jay College.  In response, Dr. Michael Principe of William Paterson who was a panelist in this event invited John Jay College students to partake in the study abroad program at Cambridge University, England.  Six of the eight students from John Jay College who studied at Cambridge this summer were UNSA members.

Those UNSA members who were participating in the NMUN conference attended a meeting every Friday where they met with Professor George Andreopoulos (UNSA’s faculty advisor) and evaluated each other’s research.  After these meetings, UNSA members often went to a local bar for a few drinks and laughter.  Even at the bar, discussions took an intellectual direction in which students often debated about issues relevant to the United Nations, international law, etc.

In the Fall 2003 semester, UNSA is planning on holding at least two events in every month.  Highly qualified lecturers and speakers will be invited to John Jay College to discuss exciting and scholastic topics.  Aside from academic events, UNSA will also hold social events where members will get a chance to interact and have a good time.

Unsa and you

 

There are many advantages in becoming an UNSA member.  Through UNSA you can learn about the United Nations system, international relations and law, and world cultures.  UNSA also gives its members an opportunity to publish their writings in its newsletter that will be published every semester. You can also improve your writing and public speaking skills by participating in model conferences and attending UNSA events. Being an UNSA member will also stand out on your college transcript and resume, as this student club is one of the most scholarly, creative, and erudite organization at John Jay College.

 

UNSA Online

 

To better assist members and prospective members, UNSA has created a website that can be accessed by visiting http://www.geocities.com/jjayunsa. By accessing this link, you can learn more about UNSA, its purpose, it’s previous and future activities, executive board and faculty advisors, it’s constitution, recommended booklist and links, and much more.  In collaboration with another John Jay College student organization, the Society of International Law, Justice, and Human Rights, UNSA has developed an online forum where John Jay College students are able to discuss issues related to the United Nations, international law, human rights, and etc.  You can also email UNSA at [email protected].