The Columbia International Relations Council and Association (CIRCA) is one of Columbia's largest undergraduate organizations and the largest devoted to international relations. We have a proud history of engagement, starting with the Columbia student body, extending to New York City and to peer institutions across the country and the world. Our dedication to understand and facilitate learning about international relations was affirmed at the end of the 2008-2009 academic year, as we were recipients of the Columbia Impact Award, given to the campus organization which has had the largest impact on Columbia.
CIRCA strives to explore international relations through a variety of angles ranging from community engagement to competitive international relations debate. Importantly though, our members come from the widest possible variety of backgrounds and interests, sharing only a common goal to learn more about international politics. CIRCA oversees a range of programs designed to further student engagement with international politics.
Our globally recognized and attended intercollegiate and high school Model UN conferences, CMUNNY and CMUNCE respectively, place delegates from across the country and the world in crisis-driven simulations. Committees cover critical junctures in past, present, and potential future global affairs. Both conferences are entirely planed, organized, and staffed by Columbia students.
CIRCA's Traveling Team attends nine annual Model United Nations conferences in the United States and abroad. Our team has established itself as one of the best in the nation, earning regular accolades for outstanding achievement.
CIRCA's community outreach arm, Education Simulations(ESIMS), teaches parliamentary procedure and international relations to New York City high school students from Title 1 schools. This year we hope to expand ESIMS through a partnership with UNA-USA, where Columbia students help public middle school and high school teachers implement global studies through Model UN.
On campus, CIRCA's Academic programs bring in world-renowned speakers through our speaker series, which is one of Columbia's largest. We create and host a dozen speaking events annually, while cosponsoring ~20 such events with other campus organizations. Speakers, influential in international politics, engage Columbia students in discussion and debate on pressing international issues.
Finally, our regular social events ranging from board game and sushi nights to pick-up soccer, from visits to the UN to karaoke singing, offer a great opportunity for our members to relax, make new friends and engage in some informal political discussion.
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