Model UN takes on Georgia Tech
Students gathered around to take on their roles as delegates by receiving their own name tags and room assignments. The first conference of this school year, this conference serves as an introduction to the expectations of Model UN. “I think Model UN is really great for people who want a better understanding of the world and diplomacy,” NC junior Harrison Haley said.
October 20, 2017
NC’s Model United Nations (UN) team took on the annual Georgia Tech conference, bringing 28 students on Monday, October 9 and Tuesday, October 10. Students woke up early in the morning to sleepily pile into the buses at 6:45 in the morning. The students came prepared for the two long days of formal debate for the first time since their University of Alabama conference last year.
“I think the conference was really good for the first of the year and to reintroduce speech and debate and Model UN,” junior Harrison Haley said.
Given a member state (Russia, Poland, or Hungary) of the United Nations, the students plays the role of a delegate, taking on the policy of the country and the values they hold, regardless of their own personal opinions. Speeches prepared and position papers written, the students worked hard for weeks in preparation to do their best at the conference.
“It’s [the conference] a lot fun but also a lot of work, research sometimes takes a long time, but it’s worth it to know what is going on [in the world],” junior Cedric Pfeiler said.
Georgia Tech, holding 13 committees ranging from discussions of water sourcing to the importance of incorporating women in politics, encouraged individualism and the voices of the countries to ring loudly.
In formal debate names of future speakers litter the board. Over time arguments form and fights may even break out. Speakers ready themselves for heated discussions and the ensuing drama that follows, often the debate makes the delegates excited for conference. “Sometimes it seems boring but sometimes it’s like a reality tv show.” Haley said.
Delegates chose their own committee from the ranging topics of discussion that affect the countries based on relevancy and what would best suite their personal interests. The delegates attempt to showcase the differing political climates in each member state as best they can within the committee.
“I have been to a lot of conferences, but I am always a little nervous. I eventually start feeling comfortable as the day progresses,” Haley said.
The end goal of the held assemblies, to see solutions to the assigned topic, comes in the form of resolutions written by the delegates. Resolutions voted into effect help contribute to the overall performance of the delegate, and determines whether or not they receive an award for their work.
Prepared to hand out the required information, Georgia Tech volunteers made Model UN-ers feel at home and comfortable. Georgia Tech’s Model UN college team set up and ran the conference themselves, making the whole thing possible. “I had very few complaints in general about the conference, it was really well organized,” NC junior Cedric Pfeiler said.
Although NC did not take home an abundance of awards, they saw the delegation from Russia, junior Spencer Paige, win arguably the hardest award to win in Georgia Tech’s Crisis Committee: Best Delegate.
New and old delegates learned new skills, challenging themselves on both days of the conference. The conference stood out as both an educational and enjoyable trip overall, with all the delegates glad they attended.
