Encinal High School’s Model United Nations (MUN) club hosted its first student-led conference on November 16, naming it “Island Model UN.” Welcoming three other high schools, students came together to share their insights and to learn and practice their speech, collaboration, and delegation skills.
As an alternative to the fully booked UC Berkeley Fall Conference, Encinal MUN officers organized the mock conference at their school in hopes of helping local students new to Model UN learn and practice important delegation skills. The students were from Encinal, ASTI, Piedmont, and Alameda High.
“There weren’t a lot of good conference opportunities in the fall in the Bay Area, so we decided to run our own conference,” said Encinal Model UN club president Eugene Kruger. “We hope [this conference] is a less stressful environment where [students] can improve their public speaking skills, diplomacy skills, research skills, and improve as Model UN participants and people in general, because these are all great skills.”
Officers planned an extensive schedule for students to discuss and present ideas on two thought-provoking current events, and global issues: combating the illicit arms trade and global vigilante violence. Student delegates were tasked with accurately representing their assigned countries’ interests and needs and working together to create impactful solutions. Prior to the event, all students were assigned partners and countries—organized by Encinal outreach coordinator Cadence Tramel—and were expected to bring thoroughly researched position papers to the conference.
“I love seeing kids being smart,” said Encinal Model UN advisor and history teacher Emily Pabarcus. “Model UN pulls that out of all the participants. You have to do research, learn about a country and where they stand on an issue, and you have to learn about the issue. Getting people out of their personal space and into a more public space where they are learning about things outside the school curriculum that are super impactful globally is so cool. Model UN gives kids the opportunity to do that.”
Students practiced the format of the customary four-day event—wearing professional and formal attire, coming prepared with notes and research on their countries and debate issues, and practicing professional conduct. Delegates practiced unmoderated and moderated caucuses, calling and voting on motions on the floor by raising their placards, and using appropriate diction and phrases.
The day was rigorous and possibly daunting for newcomers, but it served as a beneficial learning opportunity and immersion into Model UN. The event cultivated a positive learning environment for students to feel free to make mistakes and practice conference rules and expectations before spring, when conferences are more high-stakes and serious.
By the end of the first topic, three groups (called “blocks”) were formed, comprising multiple countries, signatories, and sponsors. Each group brainstormed resolutions targeting combating illicit arm trades. Groups later presented and brought these to the floor: GATPT (the Global Arms Trafficking Prevention Treaty), Holding the West Accountable, and TRACE (Targeted Response and Asset Coordination for Elimination of Illicit Arms Trade). Later in the evening, GATPT and TRACE were successfully voted on and motioned to pass by the delegates.
“It was our first conference, so we were excited to try out something new and experience it,” said Piedmont High School freshman Olivia Kaltenecker, representing Pakistan for the day. “I’d recommend this to people at my school. It’s my first time but I already think it’s really fun and it’s a good chance to learn new things.”
Sharing similar sentiments, Kaltenecker’s teammate and peer, freshman Amalia Angulo said, “I was nervous to see how it would turn out. We [got] to learn a lot about different countries and diplomatic ways of how the world works, so I would recommend it.”
Piedmont High School and ASTI are relatively new to Model UN, having only recently started their clubs. Advisors encouraged students to branch out of their comfort zones and learn about Model UN.
ASTI Model UN Advisor and Social Studies teacher Michael Hans shared his thoughts on the event as a whole and its benefits. “Getting the kids used to the process, I don’t think they got entirely how this was going to work,” Hans said. “So when they started I could tell they were kind of shy, but as the morning went on, I could see them getting more and more engaged. [Model UN] gives you so many relatable life skills. You learn to listen, compromise, and to speak. Doing it in front of a room full of peers is a real experience that benefits you; it does not hurt at all.”
Encinal officers ended the day with a closing ceremony, awarding all delegates with participation awards and commemorating several with certificates for consistently going above and beyond throughout the conference.
Maleia Ferguson is a senior at Encinal High School and is Body Copy Editor for the Horizon yearbook.
