Club Spotlight: Model United Nations
The international usage of Bitcoin, the rapid increase in bio-technological advancements, the ethical dilemma of automated drone usage in warfare and the empowerment of women and racial minorities are just a few of the many topics discussed by Exeter’s Model United Nations (MUN) club. Members meet each Sunday to prepare for upcoming conferences and develop their skill sets in oratorical speaking, diplomacy, problem-solving and role-playing as delegates from various countries.
A student’s preparation often begins with research on their assigned country’s perspective and the creation of solution proposals to the given problems. Afterwards, during the event, students debate and justify their ideas to create coalitions with other country delegations during a lobbying period. Finally, delegates move on to negotiations and reach conclusive compromises.
Multiple MUN events occur throughout the year, including Dartmouth University’s DARTMUN, Boston University’s BOSMUN, and PEAMUN, hosted by Exeter. During the most recent HMUN, a four-day conference at Harvard, Exonians earned several high-level awards from Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Crisis and Regionals committees.
Before attending conferences, MUN club meetings prepare students to excel in their events. The MUN leadership trains delegates by constructuring speaking drills and games, presentations on event procedures and discussion on strategies for higher performance in committees. Students are also assigned to write articles on MUNdays, MUN’s online publication discussing international affairs. “This is all to best prepare our delegates for conferences,” lower Pedro Coelho said.
MUN conferences and events provide valuable experiences to participants, according to club adviser History Instructor Eve Southworth. “I think [MUN] really helps [the students] practice skills, their negotiation skills and skills that one would need in political realms… It's a really fun experience that could really help people who are interested in negotiations and political careers,” she said.
In addition to growing members’ diplomacy skills, MUN fosters bonds within Exeter’s team. “I think what's really memorable about these experiences is the bonding that we get to do as a team, like staying up late… talking and playing games with each other. It's always really fun,” senior and MUN co-head Chai Vankireddy explained.
Furthermore, experienced MUN members develop their organizational skills while planning and preparing for the conference events themselves. Upper and Undersecretary of Specialized Committees Nahla Owens said that, through helping with the logistical and organizational aspects of PEAMUN, she gained significant knowledge to apply to other events on campus.
“You realize all the little things that need to happen; we need to fold placards for people, we need to print out information …we need to direct the flow of traffic to different places,” Owens said. “I’ve learned [organizational skills] for a lot of other activities I do, like organizing Unsilenced or … events or clubs like ALES.”
Competition has always been a large part of the club’s mindset, but Vankireddy noted that the club has changed over the years to bolster positive energy. “During my time here, there used to be a much bigger awards culture, and that was a bit toxic in some ways. But I think now, we're a lot more respectful of each other,” she said. “We have personal motivation to get to work, and there's not as much of that toxic culture anymore.”
Vankireddy explained how MUN has been developing its inclusivity to provide more opportunities for a wider range of students at school. “We've been pretty good about providing or making sure that people that need financial aid to go to conferences can get it… I think that's definitely something we've changed in like recent years to making [it] a more accessible club,” she said.
Owens acknowledged a need for more diversity amongst MUN participants and noted few Black or Latinx representatives.
Despite this factor, Owens praised positive aspects of the club’s culture. “It's really nice to be able to have a really supportive environment within our school and within our team,” she said.
MUN’s culture allows students to pass on their diplomacy skills to younger generations of Exonians, Southworth concluded. “The upper and senior students help train and teach the prep and lower students,” Southworth explained. “They develop their skills, and it's a really collaborative environment where they help coach the newer students.”