Owen Bland, a Sophmore International Relations major, is spearheading the revival of the Saint Anselm College Model UN. The new organization will be advised by Politics Professor Dr. Cleven, and Bland hopes that it will bring opportunities to students and the college.

Bland’s resume includes being a NHIOP Ambassador as well as a student of the International Relations major. After his time at Saint A’s, Bland plans to further his pursuit of his education as well as work for the United States State Department, specifically in security studies and worldwide peaceful-conflict resolution.

Bland was invited to the first-ever College Democrat and Republican Student Debate on Campus, seconding Kellen Barbie, Junior Politics major.

Bland said, “That was truly remarkable because one of the things I love about Saint Anselm College is that we love to talk…And we will talk about the things that matter in places where people can hear them.”

From the beginning of his college career, Bland was expecting to be involved in the Model UN on campus. Bland has been involved with Model UN since seventh grade, and was surprised and disappointed that the hilltop didn’t have an active chapter. 

When asked about the Model UN prior to the current one, Professor Cleven responded, “ there has been Model UN in the past…Sometimes there are years where less activity takes place because active students have graduated. In this case, COVID happened and there was a period where students could not travel to Model UN conferences.

In high school, Bland was a part of a well-developed Model UN team, winning all four years he was in it. Woodstock Academy, Bland’s high school, has been invited to the national level competition for twelve consecutive years, winning six years in a row overall. Bland competed nationally twice.

The Model UN listed on Saint Anselm’s website went defunct in 2011. Bland didn’t understand the amount of student engagement with the Ambassadors and the student engagement with debate, that there was no interest in Model UN. 

In regards to creating a Model UN, Bland said, “I’ve always been intending to get involved with a Model UN program here on campus. I just didn’t realize I’d have to start it to make that happen. And so I saw a need and I’m seeking to fill it.”

Dr. Cleven was asked by Bland to be the advisor and, according to Bland, was very excited by the idea. Dr. Cleven was the advisor of the initial Model UN. Bland knew he would need members and asked around the International Relations classes, as well as students associated with the NHIOP. He was surprised with the yield of student interest, adding roughly thirty names in just three days. 

“ I look forward to seeing our students participate in activities and conferences beyond the college campus. In the past, Model UN conferences have given Saint Anselm College students a chance to interact with students from all over the world at the same time as learning a lot about other countries and the United Nations,” said Professor Cleven.

Although the new Model UN’s relationship with the NHIOP is still unclear, Bland predicts that there is going to be a large overlap in student interest. He would love for the two organizations to work together, but he expects that they will remain largely separate in the beginning. 

The organization also plans to participate in two competitions in the year, one per semester. Bland’s original concern for the conception of the new Model UN was student interest but now has shifted his worry to finances. A large component of the organization is its requirement to travel to conferences. 

The Model UN plans to attend the conferences at both Boston University and New York University, which can be expensive for the average student, according to Bland. The organization has already begun to think of fundraising ideas to relieve that financial burden off of students. 

The Model UN already has an Executive Board. Bland will be the President, organizing events and responsibilities for the club. Benjamin Harrington, a Sophomore, is the Vice President. Harrington’s job will be on-campus engagement and community outreach. Lydia Mynczywor, a Sophmore, will be Model UN’s Secretary, focusing on travel affairs. Justin Bergeron, a Junior, will be the Treasurer for Model UN, tracking finances and organizing fundraisers.

To new recruits, Bland shares that the organization is for talkers, for the people who like to think about big issues. Bland also thinks that Model UN helps in gaining confidence on the individual and social levels.

Bland said, “The program I’m trying to build here is a place for people to have a safe environment where they can grow and learn and become more confident in all of the spoken and skills of politics but to life in general.”

Professor Cleven stated, “Students should know that this is a great way to have fun and learn at the same time. It is also a great way to make friends and to have experiences that you will remember well beyond your college years. And it looks great on your resume! So consider joining!”

While a member of Woodstock Academy’s Model UN, Bland’s role was focused on training recruits in the organization. According to Bland, his experience in his position gave him a unique experience in starting the Model UN at Saint A’s. The skills he learned in his Model UN will be brought to the new one, in the same kind of training.

In his final thoughts about Model UN at Saint Anselm College, Bland said, “Where I found my love for politics is where I found my love for debate. It’s where I found my things.”