Model United Nations

Washington College has sent delegations to Model United Nations conferences around the United States and world for over two decades.

What Is Model United Nations?

Model United Nations simulates the United Nations and other international organizations and government bodies such as the World Health Organization, the African Union, and government cabinets. Participants are assigned to represent countries, organizations, or leaders in order to debate pressing international issues. Over a series of committee sessions, delegates must work together constructively in order to introduce working papers and eventually draft resolutions. The sessions end when the committee votes on all the introduced draft resolutions, generally choosing to adopt a single document that addresses the problem being discussed. Delegates-in-training learn advanced research skills, public speaking techniques, teamwork, and the practice of diplomacy in order to be successful in inter-collegiate competition.

Washington College sends delegations annually to:

• Security Council Simulation at Yale University (SCSY) — Fall
• McGill University Model United Nations (McMUN) — Spring
• Harvard World Model United Nations (WorldMUN) — Spring, alternating years

Delegates and delegates-in-training may enroll in a 2-credit course, Model Diplomacy or Model United Nations — to supplement their co-curricular experience.

WACMUN, a high school level Model United Nations simulation, will be hosted at Washington College in November 2013.

What Is WorldMUN?

The Harvard World Model United Nations Conference (WorldMUN) is the most diverse college-level Model UN conference in the world, attracting more than 1,800 college students from more than 50 countries each year for a youth summit. WorldMUN moves to a new international city each year. The conference lasts one week in March and combines committee sessions during the day with nightly social events. The events provide delegates with a great way to experience the host-country’s culture and to learn from students from around the world.

Past Conferences Where WC Delegations have Participated

• 1993 Prague, Czech Republic
• 1995 Geneva, Switzerland
• 1996 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 1997 Budapest, Hungary
• 2002 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
• 2004 Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
• 2009 The Hague, The Netherlands
• 2010 Taipei, Taiwan

“Having the opportunity to participate in the World MUN conference in Taipei gave me a chance not only to visit the country and explore the culture, it also gave me a chance to connect with other students from around the world with a common experience and a common goal. It gave me a chance to expand my knowledge and understand my topic from different perspectives. It also taught me to open up and share my own ideas. Every idea is important, sharing them is the only way others will be able to understand what you are thinking.” — Christina Fisher ‘10 (Taipei 2010)

A Day in the Life of a Delegate:

• 9:00am - 12:15pm: Committee Session 1
• 12:15 - 2:30: Lunch
• 12:30 - 2:00pm: In-conference Visits, Activities, Workshops
• 2:30pm - 5:30pm: Committee Session 2
• 5:45pm - 6:30pm: Head Delegate/ Faculty Advisor Meeting
• 9:00pm - 1:00am: Nightly Social Event