HomeMoorestown NewsMFS delegates found their voices at Model UN conference

MFS delegates found their voices at Model UN conference

The Moorestown Friends School returned from ILMUNC with the school’s most commendations to date.

On Thursday, Jan. 25, 30 students from Moorestown Friends School departed for the Ivy League Model United Nations Conference in Philadelphia, and on Sunday, Jan. 28, they returned with more commendations than MFS delegates have earned at any previous conference.

“They had earned more commendations than at any previous ILMUNC, and they all celebrated the team’s success, but the Model UN experience is far more than a few words of recognition at closing ceremonies and a certificate,” said Clark Thomson, MFS’ Model United Nations faculty advisor and history department chair.

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ILMUNC is a four-day conference run through the University of Pennsylvania. Ali Chesnick, Jordan Brunner and Dylan Mitnick were recognized as “Outstanding Delegations,” which is a top tier award in Model United Nations. Additionally, Mariana Goldlust, Andrew Rowan and Micaela Coll received honorable mentions for their work on committees. Finally, MFS students Eli Gamber, Kayla Patel, Serena Lin, Calum Boone, Aaron Klein, Christine Chandran, Cameron Stirner and Evan Fenska received verbal commendations.

MFS’ MUN program boasts a different approach than many of the surrounding schools. The school’s MUN class is entirely student-led, with a faculty advisor taking a back seat role as students create lesson plans and lead the course. For students unable to take the class, MFS also offers a club. This year, MFS saw the greatest interest to date in the program, with 50 students interested in enrolling in the course.

Seniors Anna Goula and Andrew Landesman serve as co-secretary generals of the MFS MUN program. Landesman said in their roles, the pair run the course, register for conferences and generally make sure everyone in the program is on track.

MFS’ MUN delegates attend conferences at Rutgers University, University of Delaware and the University of Pennsylvania each year. Attending conferences is a major component of the class, which is graded on a pass/fail basis.

Goula said their lessons discuss good public speaking skills and speech writing. She said because they are students teaching other students, they are able to provide a more tailored one-on-one approach to helping each student.

Prior to a conference, Goula said some days, she and Landesman will take 10 minutes at the start of a class and have students write an opening speech. From there, they’ll call on students and have the class provide feedback. Other days, they’ll give students a topic and have them practice debating.

Landesman said delegates are working to achieve a certain goal, or “solution,” on a topic. He said the conference encompasses a wide variety of issues, with each issue organized into a committee. He said a college student will run each of the committees, and multiple committees then make up the overall conference.

At a conference, every student from MFS argues from the vantage point of the school’s appointed country, and at ILMUNC, MFS’ delegates represented Israel. At a conference, delegates venture off into separate committees where they argue topics such as drones, the drug trade and HIV/AIDS through the lens of their appointed country.

“You’re representing a country’s ideals, which may be different than your own, which is one of the things that’s so cool and unique about Model UN,” Goula said.

Looking at these issues through that perspective is often the most difficult part of Model UN, Landesman said.

“It’s difficult to advocate for something when you’re not necessarily wholeheartedly agreeing with the position,” Landesman said.

Goula said finding the right words is often the most difficult part of MUN.

“It’s definitely most challenging when you’re at a conference to kind of find your voice because everyone is trying to win — to find your own voice and not just repeat what everyone is saying,” Goula said.

Sophomore Calvin Bell III said heading into a conference requires a lot of research and preparation. When approaching his topic of drone proliferation, he had to not only research drones but also how Israel, in particular, is using them.

“It’s about making sure you know your background and making sure you know every part of the topic as well,” Bell said.

Bell said the most challenging part of a committee is often competing against students who may be more experienced or more talented. He said often it’s the students who speak the most who are awarded, so it’s important to make every moment of speaking time count.

Thomson said at ILMUNC, MFS’ delegates played “important roles” in every committee and each student returned with many tales about committee work.

“Anna Goula, one of our co-presidents, leaned back at closing ceremonies [and] began to tell me, ‘Not sure we are going to be recognized today. Everyone said their committees were tough. Great delegates from other schools,”” Thomson said. “I think other schools may have been saying the same about Moorestown Friends School.”

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