Heated debates echoed through the Radisson Hotel, 181 W. Broadway Blvd., as high school students tried to engage in global problems at the 43rd Annual Model United Nations conference Friday and Saturday.
The event, hosted by UA Model UN, gathered students from Arizona, California and Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, to address problems such as international security, women's rights and atomic energy.
Every student group represented a different country and prepared weeks beforehand to better understand and take a realistic stance on their nation's needs, said Achyut Sompura, an anthropology freshman who is responsible for media and public relations for the Model UN.
David Kim, a sophomore at Cerritos High School, California, said he takes Model UN as an honors class and has to attend at least two conferences a year. He said was satisfied with this year's outcome.
"This conference has met my expectations, this is the first time I'm not complaining about something," said Kim, who represented North Korea. "There is a lot of diversity, which is nice."
William Dixon, Model UN advisor at the UA, said the importance of the conference is to encourage students to think about issues from another country, which is difficult to do and takes a lot of preparation.
"Students try to take realistic positions and maintain their position as a delegate of their country at all times," Dixon said.
Apart from the stimulating atmosphere at the conference, one student said it was difficult to concentrate and follow the rules for two days straight.
Georgia Perrian, a sophomore at University High School in Tucson, 421 N. Arcadia Ave., said the committee sessions tended to be very boring and she would sometimes go leave the conference to listen to her iPod with her friends.
Apart from the committee session, Perrian said she enjoyed the conference because she met a lot of new people and the atmosphere was easy going.
Students from Mexico were invited to attend the conference for the first time this year, Sompura said, and participated in Spanish-speaking committees and had translators for the closing and opening ceremonies.
Fernanda Canale, a sophomore at Liceo Thezia High School in Hermosillo, Mexico, said the conference was an opportunity to meet many different people and acquire abilities like public speaking.
Canale, who represented Ghana, said she had never debated before and she had to practice the rules for two months prior to the conference.
"I like it, everybody is friendly and organized," Canale said. "I think I'm prepared enough, but I could have done more."