Model UN Reps Travel to International Conference

"Here on the last day of the conference, committees are finishing their work, delegates are mulling outside conference rooms, committee directors are pounding their gavels to close sessions and delegates are exchanging social media communications."

This report from Model UN Advisor (and Social Studies Teacher) Lisa Vardi aptly described the energy at the Harvard Model UN (MUN) Conference that the Bullis MUN Club traveled to over Spring Break in March. After traveling to The Hague in recent years for international Model UN (MUN) conferences, this year the Bullis Model UN Club went to Beijing for the Harvard event. Fourteen Bullis students participated alongside 1,000 students from more than 100 schools, mostly in Asia. Bullis was one of only two US schools that attended.

The conference followed formal rules of debate, with students working in committees to pass resolutions that would be taken up by the General Assembly. Students represent countries and prepare position papers in advance of the conference that reflect their country's views on the topics to be debated. For the China MUN, Bullis students represented China or France in ten different committees.

On the path to drafting and adopting resolutions, topics are debated informally and formally in the committees, and feature passionate appeals by the student representatives. As Bullis MUN Advisor (and Upper School Social Studies Teacher) Lisa Vardi described, "passing a resolution can be chaotic, exhilarating and challenging!" Students work into the evenings drafting papers, debating topics and considering resolutions.

"The process is complicated and it takes participation in several conferences for students to truly feel comfortable and embrace MUN," Ms. Vardi continued. "The skills students learned will stay with them for life: listening intently for main ideas, understanding the nuances of long-term negotiations, drafting ideas succinctly and precisely, interacting with all types of people with various language skills and cultural norms, and adapting to new and different circumstances."

Alonso Flores-Noel '18 represented France on the International Monetary Fund committee: "Our committee which discussed creating a foundation for sustainable growth in Africa through foreign direct investment was divided into two factions, each with a different approach to handling the program. Although there were many similarities between the two, one side specifically discussed negotiating with African warlords to promote peace within the region, something the other group clearly opposed."

The other Bullis representatives were equally busy in their committees. Maggie Whatley '18 represented France on the Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Committee and drafted a working paper on gender inequality. Andrew Goldberg '16 and Jodi Caplan '17 represented France in the UN Security Council, where they proposed motions, delivered passionate speeches and negotiated in caucuses to negotiate with Russia over its support over separatist movements in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

John Zolet '18 represented France in the Disarmament Commission, which had more than 100 countries represented. He spoke passionately and actively engaged in discussion and process as the group discussed how to stop terrorism in the Middle East. Haley Porter '18 represented France in the Legal Committee of the General Assembly which worked on solutions to stop abuses of UN peacekeeping troops in conflict zones.

Other students represented their countries in the Special Summit of the Peacebuilding Commission, the Atomic Energy Commission, the Economic and Social Council and its UN Development Programme, the UN Conference on Women and the International Olympic Committee.

When not at the Conference, the students and their chaperones (Ms. Vardi and Spanish Teacher Bryan Whitford) toured the area to see Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and other fascinating sites in Beijing. They traveled to the Great Wall, explored the city's parks and also traveled to Xi'an to see the famed Terra Cotta Warriors. "It was great to finally get to see something I have learned so much about in history class," said Dean Ahdab '18 reflecting on the visit to The Great Wall.

"On the train from Beijing it was fascinating to see both factories and farmland, and the contrast showed us how China is changing from an agricultural society to a more developed industrial society," wrote John Zolet '18 and John Hardgrove '19 on the group's trip blog.

Whether sightseeing or working with their MUN peers, the students appreciated the experiences and the learning everywhere. "The conference delegates were well-prepared, welcoming, friendly, serious, determined and very interested in connecting with our American delegation," said Ms. Vardi. "We all have a newfound respect for second language learners, as most students who attended spoke English as a second language and worked hard to master their English communication skills at the conference."

Read more about the trip via the group's trip blog here and check out the photos here.