Flickr
Stephanie L.
Academy’s Model UN students traveled to Washington on February 12 to participate in the North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN), sponsored by Georgetown. NAIMUN is one of the oldest and most prestigious Model UN’s in the world, hosting thousands of students every year from across the world to debate global issues.
This trip was a chance to learn important diplomatic skills and step into the shoes of diplomats, representing various countries and characters in committee sessions. While the topic of discussion varies by committee, faculty advisor Mr. Compton highlighted the different stances Academy students take in their committees. “Some people participate a lot and work really hard on their position papers,” he said. “As we continue, we want to encourage more active participation in the sessions.”
NAIMUN has a reputation as a top-tier conference. Because the location offers many educational opportunities, “DC is kind of an interesting place to go,” Compton said. “The monuments and the museums are free, which helps.”
While the school has explored attending other major Model UN conferences–including the HMUN (Harvard Model UN) trip last year–NAIMUN remains a favorite because of its accessibility and relatively low cost. Compton addressed the possibility of other trips, such as the National High School Model UN (NHSMUN) in New York, but said the expenses often make other events less accessible and attractive for the student body at CA.
To attend NAIMUN, students must participate actively in our CA Model UN. Spots are limited. “We make [the decision on who gets to go] based on their participation in Model UN before the trip,” said Compton.
Eva M.’s Itinerary
First, delegates are assigned a country or role to embody and research a certain topic regarding their committee and their country or person’s stance. Then, they must study their country’s culture, economy, political structure, and legal frameworks, transmitting their knowledge in position papers. A committee’s size can vary from 10 people to over 200, depending on its type, and involves General Assemblies, Economic and Social Councils, Historical Crisis, Contemporary Crisis, and Non-Traditionals.
As students from all over the world are competing on an international level, it can be difficult to stand out and win awards. Despite our delegation leaving empty-handed, Advisor Compton said, “By and large, we saw students participating, and when committees broke out into smaller groups, I saw kids stepping into that leadership position, which was great. It has become a space to develop leadership skills, and we’re always looking for people to move up to staff.”
Friday was a day full of action, as delegates kick-started the morning with a trip to the National Mall, taking stops at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. The rest of the day was spent in committee sessions, which were jam-packed with persuasive speeches and debates. Subsequently, Hilltop Madness took place in the ballroom, where delegates got the chance to check out lively performances from various artists and performers.
Saturday started early with committee sessions, in which delegates form blocs and draft their working papers of their solutions by writing and collaborating with other delegates. The final session was chaotic and intensive as blocs presented their solutions and answered questions from other delegates before voting on a solution. To end the weekend, delegates attended a dance social to bond with other delegates outside their committees. “My favorite part was meeting a bunch of new people and being able to explore the city with friends”, said Maryam S.
On Sunday, delegates attended one last session, FUNMUN, where we engaged in fun challenges like hot chairs, superlatives, and dance challenges.
Every year, this trip never fails to leave students ecstatic, ready for a long-weekend of fun and negotiations.
