Countries from around the world will be represented by high schools from around the Pacific Northwest as the 65th annual Oregon Model United Nations Spring Conference began on Thursday morning, April 10.

The conference started today with over 1,000 students from 120 high schools from Oregon, Washington and Idaho gathered to represent 158 countries and work together to pass resolutions.

MUN is a simulation of the United Nations in which high school students participate as delegates on committees. Participants create political positions that reflect the real positions of their countries.

According to Hope Stevens, a new teacher mentor with the OMUN, while teachers and mentors provide infrastructure, the conference is entirely student run.

“We train them to lead and be supportive. It works amazingly — it’s magic,” Stevens said.

According to their website, the goal of OMUN is to “allow for in-depth and stimulating research about [world politics].”

The conference started on April 10 with opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. in Mac Court, and will conclude at 12 p.m. on April 12.