Model UN disbands conference, negotiates terms for upcoming events

Joseph Ahn • October 4, 2013

Delegates discuss problems and possible solutions to the assigned issue. This year’s conflict at MND was the problem of overpopulation and its correlation with poverty. All of the position papers that were written at the conference passed successfully. Photo courtesy of Beth Leblanc. — Delegates discuss problems and possible solutions to the assigned issue. This year’s conflict at MND was the problem of overpopulation and its correlation with poverty. All of the position papers that were written at the conference passed successfully. Photo courtesy of Sue Magnus.

With one practice conference at Mount Notre Dame High School (MND) out of the way, Model UN (MUN) is beginning to prepare for their two upcoming conferences.

“We have a bunch of able and talented people this year. I was really impressed with what we were able to do at the MND conference, and I’m confident and excited for the upcoming ones,” said Nakul Narendran, 11.

The MND conference took place on Sept. 14. There, SHS took away more awards than the other two contestants — MND High School and St. Xavier High School– combined.

Narendran and seniors Ana Barros and Rachael Sun, 12, received the Outstanding Delegate Awards.

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Also, Nimit Desai, 12, was one of the delegates new to the club who walked away with an honorable mention.

“It wasn’t exactly what I expected it to be, but I’m happy with how I did. Honestly, the most important thing is just that you are confident and you aren’t afraid to step up and come up with ideas,” said Desai.

The team hopes that their performance at MND is only the first of many successful conferences in the future.

On Nov. 15, MUN will be attending the University of Dayton Model United Nations (UDMUN).

“It’s great practice. Someone’s performance at Dayton usually reflects how they’ll do at Chicago,” said Shyam Parikh, 12.

The Model United Nations at the University of Chicago (MUNUC) will take place on Feb. 6. Although SHS has been attending this conference for only three years, it is now considered the most important of the events.

Delegates must be selected for this conference based on their past experience and performances.

This year, the number of students attending the UDMUN and MUNUC conferences has reached a record high.

“Like everyone else, I’m extremely excited for the conferences; I’m excited to represent the country I am assigned and more importantly my school,” said Isaac Harmon, 11.

For more information on MUNUC , go to the MUNUC website.

About the Contributor

Joseph Ahn, Creative Projects Editor

My name is Joseph Ahn and this is my fourth and final year at SHS. I have worked for The Leaf for four years and I am currently acting as an associate editor and a creative projects editor for The Leaf and The Leaflet. Journalism and design has grown to become one of my passions and I am extremely grateful to the program and to Mrs. Jardine, who is one of the most dedicated teachers I have ever seen in my high school career. The Leaf has given my peers and myself an amazing opportunity to become the voices of over 1200 students. Away from journalism, I dedicate a significant amount of time to my church’s youth group, where I enjoy planning activities as a member of our Youth Leadership Team and leading praise for our English Ministry services. Through my church, I have been able to travel to Hispaniola each summer and build powerful relationships and experiences, which I often write about upon returning to room 115 in July. My most recent focal point in room 115 is “Walk the Wok,” a collaborative and slightly comedic blog in which Brenda Shen and I think about and discuss what it is like for Asian Americans to grow up in Cincinnati, Ohio.