BUFFALO, N.Y. — The lecture halls inside Knox Hall on UB's North Campus looked more like the floor of the United Nations this morning.
"Today we're here for our Model UN UB Conference, where we're representing the United States as delegates," Williamsville East Student Parth Vijay said. "We're basically just trying to amend resolutions, we're trying to create new resolutions we're trying to basically win."
More than 800 students from 40 local schools were selected to play representatives from 73 countries.
It was the International Institute of Buffalo's largest Model U.N. Conference ever.
"It's learning about other countries and also we re-settle refugees so it's important for the students to know what is behind the move of refugees around the world," Senior Director of Programs & Education May Shogan said. "It affects them personally indirectly and directly."
For the students, it's a time to debate and discuss real-world issues that matter to them.
"We passed a resolution for creating a greener earth by practicing environmental sustainability and conservation," Williamsville East Senior Ariq Uddin said. "Clearly that's a field of experience that clearly we need to really improve on."
They're also learning the real-life lessons of the importance of making allies and collaborating for the common good.
"It's just been a great experience," Sacred Heart Freshman Tess Sorrels said. "Everybody in the group has been so welcoming and can help you out, especially in the meetings when we were having an unmoderated talk, people from our school were coming up and like you are doing a great job. It's just super supportive and it's an amazing place to be."
"They're serious about the topics they've brought up and they are handling it like true diplomats," Shogun added. "So those are the future leaders, and if they continue like that then I guess we're in good hands."