Reviving diplomacy on campus: Model United Nations Team

George Zemenides ‘28
zemenidesgaf@lakeforest.edu
Staff Writer

When sophomore Medhaansh Ghosh arrived at Lake Forest College, he wasn’t planning on stepping into the role of diplomat-in-residence. But this September, he found himself reviving something the campus had lost years ago: its Model United Nations team.

The club, once an award-winning presence at national conferences, had dissolved after COVID, leaving behind only faint traces of its past successes. Few expected it to return. But Ghosh, who has spent years immersed in the culture of global diplomacy, saw an opening.

“I was torn on starting the club again — it’s no small-time investment,” he admits. “You need to run the organization, compete in events, and teach newcomers. But at the same time, I believe that more now than ever, we need to sow the seeds of diplomacy.”

Ghosh’s path to the College is marked by international roots and wide-ranging experience. 

“I’m from India and the Netherlands,” he said. “I’ve been involved in Model UN since 2018, and in actual diplomacy for longer. I’ve worked with organizations like the UN, the EU, the AU — any organization with an acronym, essentially.”

That global perspective is what drives his enthusiasm for Model UN. To Ghosh, it’s not simply an extracurricular but a simulation of the real-world United Nations. 

“Just like Mock Trial or any kind of debate, the UN exists to contest ideas and represent different views,” he explains. “Model UN is that on a smaller scale. Students take the role of different countries and promote their nation’s position before an assembly of other students. It’s a great simulation of diplomacy.” 

Reviving a dormant club is no small task, but Ghosh sees the work as essential. 

“Over the past five years, we’ve seen how frayed our alliances are,” he reflects. “If we want to maintain them, we need a new generation of negotiators.”

This year, he is already aiming high. 

“For this year, the aim is to reach the holy grail of MUN: Harvard,” he says. “It’s one of the toughest conferences on the collegiate circuit, and I fully intend on building our team up to that level. This is the model we plan on building on — towards bigger and better things.”

Collaboration is also on the horizon, he said. 

“We’re planning on working with the likes of Purdue University, which has another fantastic MUN program,” Ghosh notes. “With their help, we only have room to improve. Every conference is a chance for our team to shine, for students to put themselves on the map — my job is to provide that opportunity.”

For Ghosh, leadership isn’t about titles, but about building a community of students who believe in the power of diplomacy. He extends a simple invitation to anyone curious about joining. 

“If you want to join Model UN, reach out to me,” he says. “We’re more than happy to take on new recruits.”

Then, with the same mixture of sincerity and playfulness that drives him, he adds one final sign-off: “And one more thing — go Ferrari!”