Model UN team named distinguished delegation at DC conference

A Syracuse
University/Maxwell team participating in the National Model United Nations (NMUN)
conference earlier this month was named a “Distinguished Delegation” for its
portrayal of the Republic of Finland/Suomi. The conference, held in Washington,
D.C., drew more than 1,000 college and university students from across the
United States and nine other nations.
To prepare for
their simulation of global diplomacy, the SU/Maxwell team members studied the
history, economy, politics, geography, culture, and foreign policy of Finland/Suomi,
the structure and practice of the UN system, and the conference rules of
procedure (which mimic the procedures of actual UN meetings). The students — all juniors or seniors — researched
and wrote position papers on a wide range of topics, from climate change to the
role of women in peacekeeping. They
practiced public speaking, negotiation skills, and resolution writing in weekly
workshop sessions.
Preparations also
included a pre-conference Skype briefing with two representatives from
Finland’s/Suomi’s permanent mission to the United Nations; a meeting with Bradley
R. Turner ’10 BA (Econ/IR), who had completed a one-year Fulbright in Helsinki;
and, upon arriving in D.C., a briefing at the Finland/Suomi embassy that
included, among others, the embassy’s deputy chief of mission.
There were 11
undergraduate IR majors on the team. Katherine “Katie” Conti, Taylor Dunne, and
Siddarth Senthilkumaran served as co-head delegates. Other participants were Laurel
Bennett, Oloruntobi “Tobi” Dare, Georgia Eisenmann, Michelle Guo, Taylor
Krzeminski, Paola Garcia Soto, Delaney Van Wey, and Jack Woltman.
During the
three-day conference, NMUN staff evaluated delegation participation based on
portrayal of the assigned country’s UN representatives, engagement in
conference sessions, and use of the rules of procedure. The SU/Maxwell team was
named a “Distinguished Delegation” (the second-highest award). In addition, Darewon a “Best Position Paper” award and
Conti and Soto won “Best Delegate” awards.
The NMUN conference is sponsored by the
National Collegiate Conference Association and the United Nations Association
of the United States of America. The SU/Maxwell team received support from the International
Relations Program, the Maxwell Dean’s Office, the College of Arts and Sciences,
the estate of Robert Mowitz ’41 BA (PSc)/’47 PhD (PSc), and generous SU-MAX-MUN
alumni. The delegates themselves also participated in fund-raising to help
cover conference costs.
11/14/17