By Patrick To
All new members of Model United Nations will be attending a mandatory training session at Wyomissing Area High School on October 15, 2018. The deadline for any students who wish to join MUN this school year is October 5.
Every year, the club takes its new members to a training session that lasts the entire school day. Students will be able to purchase pizza for $1 a slice and drinks for 50 cents a pop. During training, members will go through parliamentary procedure, basic rules of debate, and how to research and prepare for a conference.
Everyone in attendance is expected to dress business casual, but if you really want to be fancy, you can put on a suit and be above the rest.
Model UN is a great opportunity for any students looking to work in international affairs, improve their speaking skills, or just to meet new people and have fun. The club attends about five conferences every year, some at colleges, while others are at different schools on the east coast. Students at these conferences dress up in business casual clothing and debate about a given topic while representing their assigned country. If you’re not into the whole debate thing, you could participate through written resolutions to problems, which will still require communication with other delegates, but it would be in a group setting opposed to standing alone in front of everyone. If you’re really not comfortable, then you could even sit back and observe in order to get used to the atmosphere, although it is encouraged that you eventually get involved. Lunch is usually provided at these conferences, and you will have time to talk to any new people that you have met.
The crown jewel of Model UN is the JHUMUNC conference, which is in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference last four days, with multiple committee sessions each day. Delegates stay in a hotel room at the Hilton near the Inner Harbor, and may do whatever they wish with their free time in between sessions. 15 students are selected to attend JHUMUNC every year, and if you perform well enough, or if there isn’t anyone else, then you can make the cut as a new member. Anyone who is interested should talk to Mrs. Kennedy in room 127 by the end of the day on October 5.
Photo courtesy of Mrs. Kennedy.
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