On the first weekend of November, Haldane’s Model United Nations team competed with other schools at the 26th annual University of Connecticut Model United Nations (UCMUN) conference. Students were assigned a country, which they represented on important topics separated by committee. Some committees were dedicated to specific issues, like protecting children in war or prisoners’ rights. Competing on Haldane’s Model UN team in conferences like UCMUN was a great way for students to put themselves out there and improve their public speaking, teamwork, research skills, and leadership.
In advance of the conference, Model UN students were assigned a country and a topic, which they researched in preparation for the conference competition. Students were required to understand their country’s position on their topic to represent them most accurately. At the conference this fall, Haldane students represented their assigned country on important topics such as access to healthcare. These topics were further separated by committees dedicated to a specific issue the UN recognizes. For example, junior Lincoln McCarthy represented the Asian nation of Azerbaijan in the Social and Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) on the topic of the treatment of prisoners. Members of the committee then worked with other delegates to create and vote on resolution papers in an effort to address their issues.
For the next two days, the club was in and out of conference rooms, working tirelessly to pass their resolution papers, which involved working and compromising with other delegates to develop solutions for the issues at hand. Delegates collaborate to write the resolution, which is then voted upon.
Aside from hard work on the conference floor, Model UN members have a lot of fun in between debating. For example, before arriving at UCONN, the club made a stop at Chipotle. Another highlight of the trip was spending time with friends at the hotel. Junior Anna- Catherine Nelson enjoyed watching “The Office” with the team in a hotel room. She noted, “I would say my favorite part of the trip was when the whole club gathered together. We watched a show together, and we had some team bonding.” Another highlight of the trip was the Delegate Dance, organized by Jack Parr, the Director General of UCONN MUN 2024. Senior Amelia Alayon cited Jack Parr as her “favorite part of the whole trip.” Many Haldane Model UN students shared that Mr. Parr was very charismatic.
The UCONN trip balanced communication and collaboration experience with field trip fun, and the Haldane MUN members enjoyed the opportunity to bond as a team while working to find solutions to real-world issues.
