KUNA Journal

Volume 2: Issue 2

March 8th, 2016

We Are The World

Take A Quiz

By: Lyndsey Mullins

By: Carrie Jo Cecil

How far did you travel to get
to KUNA?
Fifteen minutes.
-Andrew and Clay, St. Francis
School
An hour and a half.
-Taylor, Henry Clay
Three and a half or four hours,
since we stopped for lunch.
-Lydia, Lawrence County High
School

The world is a daunting word. Its

massive, above our comprehension, beyond our reach. I mean,
we are just teenagers after all,
right? I hope that now, at the end
of this conference, you realize
just how wrong that ideal is. That
we can change our world for the
better; we can right the wrongs
of the place everyone calls home,
no matter what country boundaries they reside in, what language
leaves their tongue, what struggles they face.
Yeah, the world is a big place, but
its our place. Our place to better, our place to observe and love
and protect. And as the young,
privledged people of our world,
it is our responsibility to take
our damaged world under our
wing and nurse it back to health
through compassion, advocacy,
and most of all, hard work. Its
not easy to instigate change. But
its also not easy to stand up

in front of your peers and talk

about the issues close to your
heart. Its not easy to hear the
struggles of the world and try to
think of how to solve it feasibly.
Its not easy to debate against
your peers on issues that goverments havent been able to solve
for decades. But here at KUNA,
you did that. You stood up, you
listened, you cared and thats all
that our world can ask of you.
However, that doesnt mean that
its all that you can do. Go out
beyond these doors, change the
world weve explored and discovered during this conference.
Whether its simply educating
your best friend about the struggling economy of Guatemala, or
telling your parents about how
child trafficking is plaguing Monaco. Go out and cause change,
because the truth is, we are the
world. And we have to be the
ones to change it.

Do you have any talents or

special skills?
I build stuff, and I have my
student pilot license.
-Eli, Lafayette High School
I can recite the Greek Alphabet.
-Taylor, Henry Clay
I can play the ukulele.
-Julia, Henry Clay
I can do an impression of
Stitch from Lilo & Stitch.
-Sam, Owensboro High School
What Hogwarts House would
you be in?
People have always said that
I look like Harry Potter, so
Gryffindor.
-Patrick, St. Xavier High School
I dont really like Harry Potter,
but I think Im a Ravenclaw.
-Sharika, Kentucky Country Day
Id be in the Louis Vuitton
house.
-Nathan, Rowan County Senior
High School

Hai-KUNA

Global Village

By: Patrick Donovan

The Stairs
My harsh trek begins
A mountain in front of me
Need. Elevator.
Kuna in a Nutshell
Go grab your best clothes
Get your proposals ready
Head down to kuna
All have orange books
Powerful and great speeches
Name tags a flutter
The hotel so grand
Today, you will learn and grow
People are so nice

Clink clink clink clink clink

This noise pervades the stairway
The journey is rough
Some have twenty flights
I feel bad for those people
Its a harsh workout
Everyone complains
I reach my coveted floor
My time has now come

Many colored booths

Such an array of countries
And cultural clothes
Little blue passport
I seek to get my book stamped
Flags go waving on
Is it Greece or Grease?
Slovakia has good beef
Let my people go
Countries march on in
Delegates serve their countries
Its a great parade

Committee Chair Surprised He Actually Has To

Do Stuff
By: Callum Weimer
Ah, the committee chair. Who doesnt love the
rat-tat-tat of the gavel and the never-ceasing
undertones? The dutiful responsibilities and the
undying adherence to maintaining order in the
summit? Apparently, Miguel Sherpa. St. Javier High
Schools very own committee chair was roused from
his slumber at the break of noon by a fuming Ben
Reno-Weber rapping at his chamber door. When
confronted about his negligence, Sherpa replied I
dont know, I was tired. The hours that followed
would truly be the most harrowing of the young
mans life.
Sherpa would go on to attempt to perform the
duty we all expected him to be prepared for, and
yet after nearly inaudible gavel raps, miscalculated
times for summation speeches, and a total lack of

knowledge for his responsibilities, this bright-eyed,

tall committee chair was left with the simple question about the obligations of committee chair-dom:
Who knew? We knew, Miguel. We all knew. Even
the new delegates knew. You are literally the only
person that didnt.
However, before Sherpa could go on to muck
up another responsibility that probably should
have gone on to someone else, he confided, I still
dont know why I didnt get one of those white
wig things. When reminded that he doesnt live in
18th century England, Sherpa provided this closing
thought: England Schmengland. I just wanted to
look pretentious. Anyway, wheres Stopher? I think I
was supposed to go there at one point...

*This was not based on real events. Satire is utilized to poke fun at important positions that
work primarily behind the scenes and away from the eyes of others, making their jobs seem much
easier than they are.*

The Flight of the Flag

By: Brianna Bragg

My journey begins in the grand ballroom, where I

am placed in the small 8x10 representation of my
country. The drilling, pounding, and communicating
all indicate that my neighboring villages are being
built around me. When the time comes for the parade, I am clenched by the sweaty, nervous hands
of my representative. The soft fibers of my being
are held tightly as I prepare to present
myself to the teenagers making up the KUNA
crowd. Myself and other flags are lined up on the
sides of the rooms, creating a vast array of colors, patterns, and prints. One by one, I watch as
the announcer calls up each country, and my fellow flags are put on display for all to see. As the

minutes pass by and my time comes, the hands

grasp me tightly as we start ascending the stage.
I proudly wave the symbol of my country in front
of the crowd with a feeling of immense patriotism,
for I am glad that I can represent my nation. After
those few seconds of glory, my country descends
the stage and we join the line of countries once
again. As the parade comes to a close, the perimeter of the ballroom is surrounded by every country and their respective flag. Each countrys flag
has their own color arrangement, with some on
poles and others being held. But here at KUNA, our
differences are respected, not discriminated. Every
unique country is represented in equality.

Bright Minds, Big Publicity

By: Callum Weimer

What comes to mind when you think of the word

dope? Think about it. No, seriously. Think about
it. Like actually look away from the screen for a
second, ponder the connotations of the word, and
come back. Good? Cool. Now think about the meaning of the word Pope. This ones easier. I wont
ask you to look away from the screen in starry-eyed consideration of all papal double-meanings. Got it? Fantastic. Now at this point youre
probably wondering how these two words are related--or, more likely, why youre being asked to consider the definitions of two pretty one-dimensional
words. The answer is simple: theyre about to take
the world by storm. KUNA 2016s second-smallest
delegation wants to make the first largest impact,
and theyve found a unique way of doing it. Effective immediately, dope as the pope will become
the foremost expression of satisfaction with something. Gone are the days of coral and fetch; now
is the time of the holy rhyme. West Jessamine High
Schools originally eight-person delegation dwindled down to four when half dropped out due to

sickness. Not to be deterred, the remaining

ambassadors rallied to make the most of a stunted
embassy. And yet, West Jessamines courageous
effort is more than a humorous ploy; it is a suggestion of everything the Y represents. Since its
inception in 1890, the Young Mens
Christian Association has given a voice to the
smallest of minorities, and today, 126 years later,
West Jessamines High School is one of them. The
institution that has given so many of us a home
has not once faltered in the mission that fueled its
birth and to this day continues to acknowledge every voice, regardless of gender, regardless of race,
regardless of class or ethnicity or background. The
YMCA has always supported every cause, from a
move towards global peace to the creation of a
trending phrase. Sure, dope as the pope is just a
funny way to show approval of something, but the
Y has never turned away the chance to make someone smile. And at the end of the day, thats truly
what the Ys about.

A Letter to Seniors
By: DoriAnne Wilson

HaKUNA
Matata
By: Brittany Jolly

Dear All Seniors,

As a first-timer at this wonderful convention, I cant imagine
how it must feel to know you
must soon say goodbye. I can
only assume that, years ago,
when you began like I just did,
you too were overwhelmed by
all the wonders of this conference. Im sure that youre also
all too familiar with the diverse
cultures fighting for recognition
in your head. From my encounters so far, I know in my heart
that this is what you guys live
for every year. These are the
three days out of the year that
you are re-inspired to change
the world despite your age.
When you give this conference
48 hours of your undivided
attention, you arent just educating yourself on the dangers
our world is going through. You
dont just raise awareness of
these global issues. You actively fight injustice. The end must
be a blessing and a curse for
you. During your last debatable conference, Im sure youre
devastated. Im sure your hearts
break to know that when we
conclude on Tuesday morning,
you will have to say goodbye to

this amazing program. And yet,

you will know that the Y has
given you every tool needed to
change the world. And to those
seniors whose journeys began
and ended at this conference,
I hope you had an experience
that youll carry with you; its
not the time you spent here that
matters, its what you learned.
You have the inspiration to
stand by over 1,000 like-minded
individuals and make a change
in this world. As a first-timer,
I will not feel like Im leaving a
huge part of my life when I leave
on Tuesday. I will not feel like a
part of my soul was left behind
when I depart. But I know you
will, and I know one day I will
follow. I hope to resemble you
when I too find myself at the
threshold where you stand now:
my head filled with knowledge,
my heart with hope. From my
heart to yours, I truly wish you
well in the years to come. I look
forward to seeing your name
amongst those that changed the
world. Thank you, seniors, for
everything youve done for me
and everything youve done for
this conference. Good luck out
there.

If you had a childhood, you

should be familiar with the song
Hakuna Matata from the timelessly valuable movie, The Lion
King. A worry-free philosophy
that literally translates to no
worries, Hakuna Matata embodies the spirit of the YMCA.
Here, hundreds of passionate
and diverse students gather to
promote a single motto sang by
a plump warthog and devious
meerkat: No worries! We unite
as nations to endorse international peace, we convene to
make a difference, we work to
ensure that are no longer any
worries. KUNA 2016, lets unite
in this common dream. Lets
make a difference in our state,
in our country, in our world. And,
finally, lets not forget the pun
you knew was coming the whole
time: HaKUNA Matata, ladies
and gents. I promise you, it
aint no passing craze.

Resolution #18
By: Emily Bragg
Today, I would like to bring your
attention to Resolution number
18 by Rachel Bragg, Annie Deitz,
Rachel Gilbert, and Ally Gregor
of Djibouti. Titled A proposal
for instating a counter plan to
eliminate Chinas influence in
Djibouti, this resolution aims for
UN intervention to help stimulate
economic growth in the country
and increase the humanitarian
aid related to drug abuse. Djibouti has a rising drug problem
and adding China to the mix
would be toxic to the country.
I was able to talk to the sponsors of this resolution to see

why you should rate it highly. It

allows a developing country to
grow effectively without being
controlled by a communist country, one argued. However, not
everyone agrees with this proposal. Tate Becherer, a representative from China, told me why,
Djibouti needs Chinas support
to be able to grow and develop
since it is such a small country.
These two countries need a
peaceful resolution that not only
protects Djiboutis independence
but also allows both countries to
find future economic prosperity.

Where do you stand in the debate? No matter your opinion, I

want you to think and listen and
then shout it to the world. Let
what Makda Mehari said at open
assembly inspire you: If you
dont have a podium, build one.

What KUNA Really Stands For

By: Julie Gillette
Keep your mind open.
Being exposed to new countries can come as a
shock to some people, but I have come to
realize that you simply cannot jump to conclusions
about the cultures or practices of another country.
I have not traveled outside of the United States
before March 6th, but I feel now that I have experienced the traditions of hundreds of countries
across the world. With the presentations, papers,
and people that you will see, you must keep your
mind open to anything and everything.
Utilize everything.
KUNA contains hundreds of excited adults and
students who are eager to hear what you have to
say. It is widely accepted to branch out to new
people and new ways of thinking. The adults signed
up to help students excel are experienced in their
field and love to see students learning and success. The students that surround you are all just as
excited as you are and they want you to succeed in
whatever you decide to do. KUNA, as a whole, is a
beautiful and incomparable experience.
Never underestimate your abilities.

I have truly seen my friends and people I dont

even know blossom into beautiful and independent
individuals through the rigor and stress that this
assembly brings them. It is astonishing to see so
many bright, young, and inspired students move
through the motions that the court has to face
everyday. So many of them take on the podium
and are trembling and shaking before speaking,
but perform their speech flawlessly. You may never
underestimate the confidence that KUNA may bring
you.
Always use your voice.
KUNA is all about learning to use your voice. The
countries that students are representing often
dont get the chance to speak for themselves. The
opportunity that KUNA presents you with allows
you to represent the concerns and issues of a
country and pushes you to propose solutions for
the issues and work towards getting those solutions to pass on a executive level. In addition, many
students find their true voice when presenting in
front of groups of people who may be persuaded
by their words.

10 Tips to
Survive
Media-Corps

A Closer Look: Syrian Refugees

By: Sarah Potts

By: Lyndsey Mullins

1: Make sure that Amanda Bates
has a constant source of caffiene at all times. Administer an
IV if necessary.
2: Make sure you know where all
meeting rooms are and become
friends with the doorkeepers so
they let you in to take the necessary pictures.
3: Parade of Nation signs are
closer than they appear through
your zoom lens. Dont let them
run you over (on accident of
course).
4: Prepare to delete 200 of your
500 pictures that didnt turn out
as good as you thought they did.
5: Wear comfortable shoes. Seriously, dont wear heels.
6: Dont try to plan. It never
works out in Media Corps. Go
with the flow, and when the flow
goes bad, make your own flow.
7: Prepare to learn more about
technology than you ever
thought possible.
8: Write down your instagram
and twitter passwords BEFORE
you log out, or youll forever be
known as @kyymcamedia.
9: Always carry a pen. The pen
is your sword.
10: Seriously, make sure Bates
has coffee. Double dirty chai, no
water, with coconut milk. Youll
thank me later.

This years KUNA has brought

to the forefront one of the most
prominent world issues in recent
memory. The Syrian refugee crisis, a result of the ongoing civil
war in the country, has displaced
more than 4.6 million people,
half of which are children. It is
the worst humanitarian crisis in
the world today. It has affected 12 million people: more than
the the Indian Ocean tsunami,
Haiti earthquake, and Hurricane
Katrina combined.True to KUNA
fashion, however, many countries
have made resolutions that seek
the help of the United Nations in
providing aide and relief. Countries as close to the heart of
the crisis as Jordan to as far as
Cuba, all looking to provide aid
to the refugees of the war-torn
region. Several countries resolutions are simply calling upon
other nations to take in more
refugees. Morgan Martin and
David Derenge, the resolution
sponsors from Germany, describe
their resolution as a proposition
to other European nations to
take in more [refugees]. Their
resolution is one of many that
hopes to reduce the strain upon
the countries who have already
sheltered so many, while still

providing safe and stable living conditions for the refugees.

While many countries are focused upon relocating the refugees, others are proposing
additional solutions. The resolution from Lebanon, for instance,
is calling upon the UN to
research and combat the environmental and health problems
that are plaguing the refugee
camps in neighboring countries.
The sponsors were inspired by
the lack of focus upon such issues, and hope that their resolution will shed light upon some of
the lesser heard of problems in
the camps. Yet another country
that is dealing with the crisis is
Jordan, a country that borders
Syria, which has already taken in
over a million refugees. The resolution from Jordan is to institute job training programs within
the refugee camps in the hope
that the refugees will be better prepared to assimilate into
whichever countries take them
in. The sponsors of these resolutions all shared one thing in
common: they felt a deep sympathy for the refugees, and felt
that their resolution could make
a difference. And while the resolutions debated here at KUNA
may not have any direct impact
upon the refugee crisis, it is
inspiring to see so many who are
concerned, and the very same
people who are making their
voices heard here will go out and
make a world of difference.

Security Council Piece

By: Claire Harmon
I, as well as many others, am experiencing my first
year at KUNA. I had never been able to meet other likeminded people who cared about the same
issues I did all in the same place. After attending
KYA in November, I expected KUNA to be very
similar if not the exact same thing. Once I arrived,
though, I realized how wrong I was. The first night
was full of exciting discoveries like the International Stage and the Global Village. The next morning,
I was eager to learn as much as I could about this
program and soon found the Security Council.
I first stumbled upon this program when I was
researching the Amazing Global Marketplace. As I
watched the ambassadors discuss their business
plans, a man approached the group. He opened his
binder and began to tell the ambassadors that the

Our Media Corps Team!

Lyndsey Mullins
Callum Weimer
Brianna Bragg
Sarah Potts
Brittany Jolly
Lilly Eicholtz
Julie Gullette
Patrick Donovan
DorriAnne Wilson
Claire Harmon
Carrie Jo Cecil

leader of the country they were currently making

a deal with had been assassinated. As he walked
away, AGM began to rework their plans. This was
when I knew the Security Council was what I really
wanted to focus on.
The man was the president of the Security Council,
Jared Thomas. Jared was kind enough to give me
the lowdown on the Security Council and let me sit
in on one of their many meetings they had throughout the day. During this meeting, the many ambassadors representing their countries presented their
resolutions and debated issues of policy. The permanent members- the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China- led the charge, leading
the Security Council with grit and determination.
Their leadership has fostered a culture of progress
which shows the rest of the world that the superpowers mean business.

Follow Us on Kentucky YMCA

Youth Association Social Media

@KYYMCA

KYYMCA

@KYYMCA

Leadership Training Conference

June 16-18, 2016
Commonwealth