On Tuesday, Sept. 24, in Memorial Union in front of the corner store, Sharon Sullivan, political science professor, held an informational meeting for students interested in participating in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women happening March 8-15.

Sullivan started the meeting by telling how one can participate in the UN. 

Anyone who wants to go with the delegate can go as an International Public Policy Institute representative. IPPI is Sullivan’s organization, which is a non-governmental organization to the United Nations that deals with economic and social issues, and also in the Department of Global Communication. 

“We have a few delegate passes and you can apply for that. It’s just a one-page, how it would benefit you kind of essay. Each organization only gets 20 passes. So, we can’t give [it to] everybody,” Sullivan said. 

A UN commission on the status of women will be held in New York. The total cost will be $2100 and if classes are taken then one can get some Washburn Transformational Experience money to reduce the cost. Class credit will be given through political science honors and women’s and gender studies. One of the reasons why they do this meeting early is so that; one can have fundraisers.

Alexis Simmons, adjunct instructor from the political science department, shared her thoughts on the meeting. 

“I cried so much because we were just listening. And it is so empowering to just be there with all these women for once. Powerful women will be showing up with wonderful expressions,” Simmons said.

This year is a huge anniversary from when the United Nations first set the millennium development goals, and they were supposed to have a certain amount of things by 2030.

If you are interested in attending the UN Commission on the Status of Women; you can contact Sullivan at [email protected].

Edited by Stuti Khadka and Morgan Albrecht