This site is designed for new members and prospies thinking about joining our team. This site is divided into the following sections:
Introduction
Letter from our Training Coordinator
Training Manual
Helpful Links
Join Our Mailing List
INTRODUCTION
The Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations system. Students assume the roles of delegates to the United Nations and debate current issues on the UN agenda. Through diplomacy and negotiation, Model UN participants seek out solutions to complex global concerns such as the environment, economic development, refugees, AIDS, conflict resolution, disarmament, and human rights. The MHC Model UN program is open to all interested students and it is a group activity that can be best achieved through a diverse range of backgrounds, skills and experiences.
Every Model United Nations delegation is assigned one or more countries, depending on the size of the delegation. The delegates then chose a committee where they will represent their assigned country's concerns and foreign policy. All committees are explained on page 8 of this booklet. Each Committee Chair at the conference will select two to three agenda items to be discussed at the conference. These topics, with background descriptions of the crisis, are sent to the delegates at least one month prior to the conference. Delegates must research these topics and, most importantly, research and fully understand "their" country's stance on these topics. You will be representing these countries, not yourself. In some cases delegates will need to write a position paper on each topic prior to the conference. Once at the conference, delegates attend committee sessions, where they will debate the topics with other MUN delegates from a variety of schools. Heated discussion takes place, caucusing is rampant, resolution writing and amending is widespread and a good time is had by all.
Mount Holyoke's History in the world of Model UN
Model U.N. at Mount Holyoke College has been an organization off and on for the past ten years. In the fall of 1995, a small group of women (make that five) restarted the organization and attended their first conference at the University of Pennsylvania. They represented New Zealand, and walked away with one honorable mention award and one verbal commendation (as well as a lot of 'you're from where?"). In the spring they attended Harvard's Conference, where they represented Tajikistan (again, the "you're from where?!" comments, but this time because of the country assignment). Eight women from Mount Holyoke attended this conference and two delegates won honorable mention awards. Our reputation has steadily been building up and we have come a long way from the 5-member delegation, all from the class of 1998, who took MHC into the arena of college MUN conferences.
Membership of MHC’s Model UN has grown consistently since 1998, when we were back to having 7 members. The incoming classes have yielded dedicated and enthusiastic members. In 1997 MHC came in third at the Yale Security Council Simulation (SCSY). We put on a good showing at the UPenn conference as well. In 1998 we came in second at Yale and at UPenn we walked away with one best delegate, 2 honorable mentions and verbal commendations. We went to Nationals, which are held in New York in the UN building, in April 1999 and faithfully represented the interests of Malawi, Chad and Yemen. We have continued to do increasingly well with every conference we have attended!
This year we want to do even better. We are the strongest, all-women's team in the circuit, which is a result of our hard work, our accurate and professional representation of our assigned countries, and our commitment to each other to treasure and support the members of this team. Not only do we want you to do the best job you can and represent your country faithfully, but also we want you to have as much fun as you can. You will work hard as a member of our delegation, but you also laugh just as hard.
This manual is a very helpful resource that will help you prepare for a conference. The manual also includes what we expect of you as a delegate when we go to conferences.
UN Official Website
Model UN Website
CIA Factbook
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