Minnesota State Submission by Ed Sabongi

Ranked 4th in size and 3rd in overall quality, the Minnesota Youth in Government has always been unanimously declared by its participants the greatest, period. While probably not the greatest, it is widely seen as one of the best, consisting of a widely equipped and intensive General Assembly and an accompanying Model United Nations (MUN) conference consisting of 1200 and 600 students respectively drawn from all over the state.
Model Assembly is probably the most unique, consisting of a four day excursion that takes over almost an entire 25 story hotel, the state Capitol, a fourth of a convention center, a small local TV station, and the entire subway system for a five mile radius. The Minnesota Model Assembly consists of a Leadership Corps for the eight graders, an Appellate Court, Supreme Courts, two seats of House Chambers and Senate Chambers for underclassmen, radio stations, a TV station, a daily news paper, lobbyist program, and a well stocked cabinet. The four day Model Assembly is so intensive and fun that at the closing ceremony when the vote to adjourn is called, not one delegate calls “aye,” all shout “nay.” Sadly, the “ayes” always have it. Thankfully it always comes around every January.
Another key part of the Minnesota YMCA experience is MUN. Commencing every March, MUN draws 600 plus students from across the state to its capitol city for an intensive and rewarding conference. The program is comprised of students grades seven through 12 and is split into two assemblies, one for high school and on for middle school. Every year, hot button issue are raised and debated, with everyone taking full interest in what happens. One unique part of the MUN experience is the Security Council emergency. Every year, the Security Council is woken up in the middle of one of the nights, for a “world crisis” which they, and subsequently, the General Assembly, must solve.
For what this article may lack in length and detail, I apologize. But it is short and lacking only because there is so much to write about that I’m afraid that if I write anymore I’ll end up with a book. I can only hope that your imagination can stretch to encompass the joy, fun, and accomplishment that Minnesota “Yig-gers” experience every January and March.