Student UN Ambassadors

The Harvard Model UN Conference seemed more international than ever before. We collaborated with students from all over the world to resolve real and pressing issues. It was special because it was my last HMUN Conference. I reflected on how much I learned over the past four years. MUN has taught me so much about diplomacy, international relations, and problem solving, and has widened my world view. – A. Nilles ’10

A team of 36 Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart students recently assumed the creative problem-solving perspectives and strategies of United Nations ambassadors. The 57th annual Harvard MUN Conference brought more than 2,500 teens from around the world to Boston and Cambridge. Newton Country Day students represented Honduras, New Zealand, and Sudan; and UN members of crisis committees, supportive agencies, and specialized agencies.

The objective of the January 28-31 Conference was to seek resolutions to complex global issues. Three members of Newton’s MUN team held elite HMUN committee positions. Another 24 students represented committees in the General Assembly and nine students sat in the Economic and Social Council. The corps of student ambassadors is guided by faculty members Dr. Daniel McGlathery, Dr. Dana Comi, and Ms. Karen Naylor-Riobueno.

Crisis Committees and Specialized Agencies

Crisis Committees and Specialized Agencies consist of the world’s most powerful and dynamic bodies. Delegates are forced to confront volatile international conflicts requiring immediate resolution. Co-chair O. Nolan ’10 assumed the role of Kang Sheng, a leading member of the Chinese Politburo in a Historical Crisis Committee. Stepping back 44 years, Nolan, who was given the task to carry out Chairman Mao’s Revolution, argued for the governing body of the People’s Republic of China. This included a mid-night scenario wherein she was awakened and escorted to the crisis center to argue for her Party until a dawn resolution was met.

Co-chair T. Pulaski ’10 represented Honduras in the Organization of American States. She argued issues specific to “A World in Hunger” and the “Continual Threat of Narcotics.”

Selected to the Non-Governmental Organization to represent Pathways to Peace, O. Bennett ’10 appeared before General Assembly committees to bring NGO perspectives and policies to the resolution process.

I put a lot of time and effort into the two five-minute speeches I made before 300-400 people. I wanted to be well-informed about the topics and my NGO position. Sitting in committees relevant to my NGO, I learned about NGOs in the real UN as I worked with several groups of delegates towards resolutions. – O. Bennett ’10

General Assembly and Economic and Social Council (EcoSoc)

Representing three of the 192 HMUN member states, Newton delegates to the General Assembly and EcoSoc tackled challenging topics and learned the art of perseverance and compromise while balancing responsibilities to their nation, national blocs, and committee as a whole.

General Assembly:

Disarmament and International Security
Topic: Responsibility to Protect
M. Mitchell ’12, M. Rocha ’12 (Honduras); A. Keane ’12, H. Nolan ’12 (Sudan)

Economic and Financial Committee
Topic: Global Financial Crisis and its Impact on the Developing World
M. Alvarez-Villalonga ’12 (Honduras), C. Dubuque ’12 (Sudan)

Special Political and Decolonization
Topic: Maritime Piracy
S. Meckel ’11, J. Sullivan ’11 (Honduras); J. Facella-Ervolini ’10, C. Greene ’10 (Sudan)

Legal
Topic: The Right to Self-Determination
V. Travia ’11 (Honduras), M. Ecclesine ’12 (Sudan)

World Health Organization
Topic: Medical Training and Accessibility
K. Addonizio ’13 (Honduras), C. Nilles ’11 (Sudan)

Special Summit on the Millennium Development Goals
Topic: Gender Equity: “Poverty has a Woman’s Face”
T. McManus ’11 (Honduras), Y. Hayre ’13 (Sudan)

Historic General Assembly
Topic: 1960 Crisis in the Congo
R. Barry ’11, B. Corrado ’11 (Honduras); C. Brennan ’13, P. Kumar ’10 (Sudan)

Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee
Topic: Legality of Gender Selection
S. Carrera ’11, A. Grant ’11 (Honduras); E. DeSimone ’11, E. Greene ’11 (Sudan)

My delegation went early to committee sessions so that we could write a working paper. Our perambulatory clauses and many of our other ideas were directly quoted in the resolution that was passed. – E. DeSimone ’11

Economic and Social Council

UN Human Rights Council
Topic: Justice as shaped by cultural and religious influences
C. Sanders ’12 (New Zealand)

UN Development Programme
Topic: Poverty Reduction in the New Economic Climate
M. Miller ’11 and C. Raymond ’11 (New Zealand)

UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Topic: Plight of Climate Refugees
K. Freeman ’10 and K. Kelleher ’10 (New Zealand)

Commission on Science and Technology for Development
Topic: Applying science and technology to bridge the gap between science and policy makers
C. Kapples ’11 and H. Stillwell ’12 (New Zealand)

UN Environment Programme
Topic: Sustainable Practices in Rainforests
A. Nilles ’10 and E. Lewis ’10 (New Zealand)

MUN introduced me to an array of different cultures. I met delegates from all over the world who are just as passionate about world affairs and issues. I enjoyed seeing how differences can be overcome through discussion and debate. The ability of UNEP delegates to come together gives me hope for the future and confidence as a leader and citizen of the world. – E. Lewis ’10