Model UN’s annual new delegate conference was held this past Saturday, September 27. At this event, new delegates learned the basics of the club, with classes including Public Speaking, Country Briefing, Rules and Procedures, and Resolution Writing. Student groups attended these classes in the morning in order to prepare for the mock conference held that afternoon.

Public Speaking, taught by senior Sean Brennan and juniors Anabel Prince and Nolan Hubbard focused on developing the student’s speaking skills. Students played games and held debates, with topics ranging from nuclear warfare, child soldiers, and women’s reproductive rights.

Both Rules & Procedures and Resolution Writing, taught by seniors Megan McMillan and Zach Connolly as well as juniors Rebecca Goldstein, and David Escobar, assisted in teaching the students basic skills needed to participate. These skills remain vital to understanding one’s surroundings when in conference, and will prove useful in the upcoming GSU conference in November.

In Country Briefing, the new delegates received a packet of information on their assigned country. Experienced delegates sat with them and explained their country’s position on the topic at hand, regarding the conflict in Russia and Ukraine. Delegates had to take their country’s enemies, allies, and trade partners into account when taking a position.

“I thought the turnout was impressive. The classes were informative and productive and they taught new delegates how to participate in an actual conference,” said senior Anna Levy, who served as the secretary general of the conference.

When it came time for the conference held in the afternoon, students used the information given to them in the classes, which proved helpful. Model UN leadership members led the conference, while lesser experienced delegates assisted with research and paging. All new delegates received encouragement to speak and participate in the resolution writing process.

The New Delegate conference proved a success in raising funds for the club’s upcoming conference to UGA in March and in preparing future delegates for these conferences. Many students that participated plan on participating in GSU because of the help the New Delegate Conference afforded.

“I loved the conference. It was really beneficial because it taught me how to participate in Model UN, such as writing resolutions and understanding the rules,” said senior Sam Fulkerson.