Delegates caucus at MUNUC
Model United Nations of the University of Chicago (MUNUC) is the largest conference in the Midwest with 2,500 delegates descending upon Chicago to participate in a weekend of learning and fun. The conference, which has an emphasis on education, serves a vital role in the Midwest where Model UN conferences are not as widely available as in other parts of the country — many Midwestern delegates see this as their biggest conference of the year. Check out our liveblog of the conference!
As usual, we try to capture different photos of delegates and staff in action:
The Prairie School is excited for MUNUC
The Cranbrook Kingswood School takes a team photo before Opening Ceremonies
Secretary-General Ben Smithgall encourages delegates to learn from this weekend's MUNUC
A delegate from the Aqsa School asks the keynote speaker a question
The Sixth Legal Committee
Seychelles (Cambridge-Isanti School) and the Czech Republic (Valparaiso High School) discuss their thoughts on a draft resolution in 6th Legal
Sweden (The Prairie School), India (Warren Central High School), Israel (Cathedral and John Connon School), and Nepal (Culver Academy) present their draft resolution in Sixth Legal
Sweden (The Prairie School) is active during unmoderated caucus in WIPO
Israel (Cathedral and John Connon School) debates an idea during unmoderated caucus in WIPO
Canada (Liberty Public Schools) speaks with another leading delegate in WIPO
Ghana (Keith Country Day School) leads a caucus bloc in WIPO
Jordan (Valparaiso High School) makes a speech in WIPO
Barbados (Edina High School) makes a speech in UNESCO
The co-delegates representing the Republic of Congo (Mundelein High School) address UNESCO
Delegates caucus in the International Labor Organization
A delegate speaks during unmoderated caucus in the International Labor Organization
Turkey (St. John's High School) tries to convince another delegate of his solutions in Interpol
Delegates exchange ideas with each other in the Ethiopian Derg
Delegates listen to ideas in the Ethiopian Derg
The dais of the Organization of American States is having fun at MUNUC
The co-delegates of St. Kitts and Nevis (Lake Forest Academy) work together in the OAS
Canada (Liberty Public Schools) listens to other delegates during unmoderated caucus in the OAS
Delegates caucus in the OAS
The USSR makes a speech in the Historical Security Council
SPECPOL in action
The sponsors for a draft resolution read off their ideas in DISEC. I couldn't catch all the sponsors but I believe Venezuela, Uzbekistan, Madagascar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Myanmar are on there along with the lead sponsor, Ethiopia (the delegate reading the resolution).
Oman (St. George's School) asks the sponsors a question in DISEC
Qatar (Illinois Math & Science) makes a speech in ECOFIN
The Philippines are enjoying their time in ECOFIN
Undersecretary-General for Specialized Agencies Clara Spera roams the halls to make sure all delegates are having fun in her committees
India (Warren Central High School) makes a speech in the G8/G20 Summit
Germany (Cambridge-Isanti High School) makes a speech in the G8/G20 Summit
Singapore (Glenbrook South High School) gets some feedback from the dais in the G8/G20 Summit
The awesome dais of the G8/G20 Summit
Qatar (Illinois Math & Science) criticizes flaws in a draft resolution in in UNHCR
Spain (Carl Sandburg High School) thinks the draft resolution is too vague
Undersecretary-General of ECOSOC Committees Karissa Woienski poses with Fluffy, the mascot of MUNUC
Portugal (Chicagoland MUN Club) speaks in COPUOS
The Russian Federation (The Blake School) obviously has some opinions on space-related issues in COPUOS
Delegates in the European Defense Agency caucus with each other
Another bloc of delegates share their working papers with each other in the European Defense Agency
The leaders of the the JCC - Germany cabinet negotiate a secret agreement in preparation for an invasion of Poland
A general speaks to the JCC - Soviet Council of People's Commissars
Delegates in the JCC Soviet Council of People's Commissars strategize outside the committee room
A delegate tries to pitch her ideas to the rest of the Office of Strategic Services 1940s
Delegates get into a heated debate in the Office of Strategic Services 1940s
Undersecretary-General of Continuous Crisis Committees Gabriel Panek announces the awards for JCC - Soviet Council of People's Commissars
Undersecretary-General for Specialized Agencies Clara Spera announces the awards for COPUOS
MUNUC Closing Ceremonies are always an emotional affair. Chief Operating Office Aash Anand and Secretary-General Ben Smithgall share a hug here.
Delegates get in their team photos at the beautiful Palmer House Hilton after Closing Ceremonies
Awards Analysis:
MUNUC is meant to be an educational conference so competition is de-emphasized. Nevertheless, they do give out individual Outstanding, Honorable Mention, and Verbal Commendation awards. According to my unofficial tally of weighted scores, Liberty Public Schools and Deerfield High School seemed to be the top two performing delegations.
Culver Academy, Cambridge-Isanti School, Wayland Academy, The Blake School, Cranbrook Kingswood School, and Glenbrook South High School also put in outstanding performances. The following schools also saw a good number of their delegates win awards: Jefferson Area High School, Neuqua Valley High School, American Heritage School Plantation, Illinois Math & Science Academy, Edina High School, Walter Payton College Prep, Berkshire School, Cathedral and John Connon School, and the Chicagoland MUN Club.
Note that the Cathedral and John Connon School from India was competing on back-to-back weekends; they had successfully defended their Best International Delegation award at Harvard HMUN last week. Using their performance at both conferences to serve as a barometer, it goes to suggest that although many of these other Midwestern schools do not get a lot of press because they don’t have as many local conferences to attend, they are nonetheless excellent in committee and should not be overlooked when it comes to national recognition.
