Within the University of Cincinnati's College of Arts and Sciences are two academic intercollegiate competition teams, both student-led and operated, that focus on debate, policy and public speaking.
Model Arab League and Model United Nations are organizations open to any undergraduate student, regardless of major or area of study at the University of Cincinnati, looking to get involved, volunteer, travel and compete.
The Model Arab League is a simulation of the League of Arab States, which is made up of 22 countries within the Middle East and North African region. The conference assigns delegations from various universities a nation. From there, each delegate represents a different diplomat, president, or official other position within that nation and they will debate, present policy and negotiate with the competition for awards.
From literacy rates in young women to tackling issues relating to Palestinian affairs, Model Arab League covers a wide, yet geographically narrow, range of topics. Pointed practice, training, and weekly meetings are expected of members competing in this delegation.
"We come up with resolutions and solutions to various debate topics," said Laila Dahman, a first-year law and society major and incoming vice president of Model Arab League. "We have practice once a week and there we practice our writing skills, our debate skills, public decorum and how to verbalize arguments."
UC's delegation hosted their second invitational, which is one of the only Model Arab League events held in Ohio, where other universities can come and simulate a real conference with other delegates. When they are not hosting their own invitational, they are practicing and preparing for conferences like regionals and nationals.
"It was one of the only clubs that piqued my interest," Dahman said. "Because I am Arab and I have a passion in the legal realm, I thought the Model Arab League would be the perfect opportunity for me to blend my cultural knowledge with my passionate debate and argumentative speaking into one essence."
Dahman described an encouraging and accepting community within UC's club. "I felt so involved with the club from day one," Dahman said. "It taught me how to conduct a group, speak in public much better and get out of my shell."
Recently, UC's delegation competed at the four-day National University Model Arab League Conference in Washington, D.C., representing the Republic of Tunisia. The delegation placed first in the nation, earning the Overall Outstanding Delegation award along with multiple honors across committees, including social affairs, political affairs and the Arab Court of Justice.
Model United Nations competes in various conferences across the country and in Canada. An internationally recognized organization, the group sends delegates to compete in different committees against other universities.
Unlike the Model Arab League, delegates in the Model United Nations usually compete in their own committee, representing their own country or position, being independently assigned and independent from each other. From general assemblies to fast-paced crisis committees and various committees that fall somewhere between the two; delegates can showcase their research, writing, policy and speaking abilities while networking with other delegates.
"I was never familiar with Model United Nations." said Erik Pongratz, a fourth-year operations management major at UC and the two-term president of UC's club. "At the Involvement Fair here at UC, it was the first club I walked up to. I loved the people and I was excited to get involved my freshman year."
Pongratz has held the position of treasurer and then president from 2024-2026. He described an experience had by many UC delegates.
"I went to D.C. in the October of my freshman year, which was terrifying but one also one of the most rewarding experiences, and I met a lot of lifelong friends."
UC's Model United Nations meets every Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. as well as offering a course listed as POL 4081 Simulations in Negotiations New delegates can join at any time and attend meetings and training simulations and have the chance to travel with the delegation. Other opportunities include volunteer hours from staffing high school conferences, CINCYMUNC and fundraising.
"Traveling is how you make lifelong friends," said Lauren Polyak, a third-year international affairs major and the group's external vice president.
"You get to learn more about people. Not just competitors but teammates and it's really rewarding you get to travel, learn about other people and universities."
Polyak emphasized the networking that is built through the Model United Nations circuit. UC's club is trying to build a coalition of Midwestern universities to grow their clubs while competing on the highly competitive southern circuit.
"Model UN genuinely gives you such great life skills," Polyak said. "We have had people from every single college represented in UC's Model U.N. Some of our best competitors have been engineers and pre-med majors, so I do not want people to think they will get turned away from learning more about public speaking, negotiation, cooperation and collaboration because their major isn't represented because it definitely is."
The UC Model United Nations delegation travels to as many as eight conferences each year, typically bringing eight to 12 delegates.
This year, the team earned 42 raw points from national competition, with standout performances at major events including the National Collegiate Security Conference in Washington, D.C., and McGill Model United Nations Conference in Montreal. At both conferences, UC delegates earned multiple individual honors, including outstanding delegate and honorable mention awards, contributing to a strong overall season across the national circuit.
Featured image at top: Award winners from UC's Model United Nations from left: Chloe Hall, Selma Younes, Erik Pongratz and Nate Moore. Photo/Hoa Nguyen
