From March 3 to 5, Aragon’s Model United Nations attended the Berkeley Model United Nations conference. High school students from across the world represented delegations and discussed concerns of their represented nation, organization or person.
MUN helps students learn more about world issues between countries and diplomacy.
“We represent different countries [and debate] policies and recommendations,” said junior Luke Phillips. “[We] also write resolutions on topics at hand.”
Students dove into country politics, economics and social issues. Students researched the problems and conflicts their countries face, and drafted strategies and solutions.
I made sure I was fully educated on everything so that if things were to arise where I would need to know background information, I’m fully prepared
“I [represented] Myanmar, and the [topic] I worked on was green economic development in developing countries,” said freshman Erin Finn. “My views are shaped by [my assigned role] because it’s one of those developing countries that need green economic development. So I’m going to support movements to [help] improve that country.”
To prepare for BMUN, club members had to write a six-page position paper on their assigned country and issues involved.
“I learned all about the country I’m representing,” Finn said, “I made sure I was fully educated on everything so that if things were to arise where I would need to know background information, I’m fully prepared.”
Delegates also were able to get real-time experience debating and collaborating with students from the state and across the world.
“Being able to engage with people from different schools to discuss all these different topics [made] it really enjoyable,” Finn said.
Although most MUN conferences were put on hold during the pandemic, this marks the second year since the conferences have returned.
Being able to engage with people from different schools to discuss all these different topics [made] it really enjoyable
“I was a little bit nervous, because you’re just thrown into a room with a bunch of people who seem like they know more than you,” Phillips said.
While the sessions were the main focus, getting to know the community outside the sessions proved to be just as important. Communicating with delegates from other countries created partnerships in finding resolutions to their corresponding problems.
“We communicated with other schools when we were in our committee sessions, including moderated and unmoderated caucuses,“ said freshman Brody Friedeberg. “We [talked] the most during unmoderated caucuses when we were free to walk around the room to make alliances and draft resolutions with other delegations.”
The BMUN conference exposed the students to difficult discussions between opposing countries and aided in practicing conflict resolution.
“There weren’t any arguments per se, but there were disagreements in strategies between certain delegations,” Friedeberg said. “Some delegations may have developed tension due to historical context as well.”
Provided the club has an adviser, Aragon MUN will attend BMUN next school year.
