On February 7, Haldane’s Model United Nations team embarked on a new trip, the first annual Bronxville MUN Conference. Unlike the annual three-day University of Connecticut Conference, which hosts over 400 delegates from several regional high schools, this conference was far smaller, with about 10 high schools competing. Junior Una Lentz noted that there were positive aspects to the smaller size. She said, “In some ways, this was even more fun because each delegate got more speaking time.”
Haldane students join Model UN to improve their public speaking skills, meet new people, and learn more about global issues. Speaking about the winter conference delegation’s mix of experience levels, senior Henry Schimming stated, “I was proud of how much effort some of the younger members of the club put in.”
Awards for Best Delegate, Outstanding Delegate, and Honorable Mention were all presented at the end of the day-long conference. Sophomore Alice Stevenson won the Best Delegate award, and sophomores Katherine Botros and Eli Hudson received Honorable Mentions. “To be completely honest, I wasn’t expecting it,” Hudson said. There is no “secret formula” to winning an award, but Hudson offered some advice: “It can be difficult to choose the right person for an alliance, plan what to say in such a short time, and win an award. Your best shot is to just put yourself out there!”
A Model UN conference is not for the faint of heart- it takes a lot of courage, confidence, and eloquence to solve global problems. Each delegate represents a country and works with other delegates in a committee focused on a specific issue. Stevenson, who was assigned to the Disarmament and International Security Committee, summarized her experience: “We took turns giving speeches about different topics related to the militarization of space, and then we formed alliances based on our countries’ standpoints. Each group wrote a resolution, which is basically a proposed solution to an issue.” Collaborating with a committee requires flexibility and compromise. As Hudson said, “The riveting thing about Model UN is that you can take days to prepare and develop a plan to win, but as soon as you step into that room, your plan will most likely immediately fall apart.”
Freshman Allegra Clementson summed up the experience: “I really enjoyed being able to meet new people and try to figure out the best solutions to global problems.”
