Earlier this fall, six AU students got to see a side of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City that most people never will.  

In October, the undergraduates took an early-morning train from DC’s Union Station to spend the day learning about international peacekeeping. The Eagles’ visit to the UN’s sprawling campus, nestled along the East River, offered an insider’s view that went well beyond the ticketed guided tours that draw over a million visitors each year.

“Very few people get to see behind the curtain,” said Ben Mermel, SPA/BA ’23. “I’m so grateful to the Department of Peace Operations and the Office of Military Affairs for letting us pull back [that] curtain.”

The visit was the result of an April event on campus with General Birame Diop, military advisor to the United Nations, hosted by the Kennedy Political Union. After Diop spoke about international peacekeeping, he invited the group of students who put on the event to visit the UN, which is made up of 193 member states.

During the tour, which was facilitated by Lieutenant Commander Marcia Braga, a Brazilian peacekeeper, the group saw the Command Center, the Secretariat Building, Security Council Chambers, and the General Assembly Building. They also engaged with senior officers and listened in on a briefing.

The changemaking experience provided the students with valuable insights into what a career in international peacekeeping is like.

“[This is] reflective of the opportunity that AU students get,” Mermel said. “The uniqueness of American University that that we take it a step further and we try to build out these experiential experiences.”