Model UN members, prepare yourselves for two hours of laser tag, rock climbing, mini golf, arcade games and inflatables because this Thursday, April 2 there will be a fundraiser for Model UN at Sports Fusion in the Chesterfield Valley. All facilities will be open to the students attending.

Co-president Alex King, senior, said he and the other officers designed this event as a club-bonding activity, but also as a way to raise money for the club.

King said they chose Sports Fusion as a venue due to the good deal they received, and they thought it’s a fun place that will attract a good turnout.

“I think it will help members who haven’t been as active get, especially to get re-emersed in the club, and members who don’t feel as comfortable talking to other members and asking for support in their resolution,” King said.

Megan Constantinides, sophomore, plans on attending the fundraiser this Thursday, and she said she’s looking forward to going and hopes to see more social gatherings for Model UN in the future.

“I think it’ll be a really good bonding experience, especially because doing all the activities there will be really fun and doing it with other people that share the same interest is really good,” Constantinides said.

Club sponsor Katie Jensen, social studies teacher, said all members who are interested in the event should bring $20 to her before Thursday. She predicts the fundraiser will attract a crowd of at least 40 Model UN students.

This year, Model UN experienced a dip in their funds. Members had to pay for buses to transport themselves to and from the conferences when, in years past, members rode in their own or another member’s car. Each conference, members have to pay $20 to cover both their delegate fees and transportation.

“Previously, members had transported themselves, but because we have a group of 100-plus students, safety concerns arose,” Jensen said. “We decided to use the buses, so we can keep better track of students and make sure they’re not on the roads driving themselves.”

Many Model UN members also took a trip to the University of Chicago earlier this year to participate in a larger conference. Jensen said everyone in attendance had to pay their own way, with the cost totaling at around $400 per person.

Jensen said she hopes this fundraiser will help alleviate some of these costs from students, as well as help fund another larger conference she wants students to attend at Washington University.

She said she wants to increase membership and encourage more people to participate by making the club more cost-effective. In the future, she wants to organize more social activities for Model UN.

“We’re a very large group, and definitely we want members to get to know each other and as a diverse group full of intelligent young people who enjoy the same thing,” Jensen said. “We think there’s a lot of common ground there and build unity within the group.”