NYC Lab School Model United Nations Conference (LABMUNC) 2014 Recap

This article was provided by Ethan Marcus, Secretary-General of LABMUNC 2014. 

High School Delegates from all around the Northeast gathered on Saturday, March 29^th  to participate in the 8^th Annual NYC Lab School Model United Nations Conference (LABMUNC 2014). With over 300 delegates in attendances from more than 20 different schools, this was by far the largest and best LABMUNC the organization has ever put on.

Staffed and coordinated completely by high school students at the NYC Lab School, a public school in the Chelsea area of Manhattan, the conference theme was all about Global Crisis and a World in Conflict. With a diverse array of seven different committees (which turned into eight by noon), the conference provided delegates with stimulating and often somewhat unorthodox debate.

The conference opened with a bang with statements from Secretary General Ethan Marcus and Director General Arthur Evanson. This year, the school’s Model UN organization celebrated its 10^th Anniversary and displayed a special anniversary video during Opening Ceremonies. In addition to this, the conference featured Keynote Speaker Robert Townley, one of the co-founders of a Model UN organization, a former Chief of Operations for GCIMUN, and current Executive Director of the Foundation for Creative Diplomacy (FCD).

This year’s committees included a Security Council on the Situation in Kurdistan, a Historical Security Council on the Cambodian Genocide of 1979, a Historical Crisis Committee on the Indo-Pakistani War of 1948, an ECOSOC on the topic of rare earth mineral depletion, the Human Rights Council on the situation in the Central African Republic, Ukraine Emergency Summit on the ongoing regional crisis, and the US Senate on the Question of Slavery (1861), which halfway through the day split into two entirely separate committees.

Debate was intense throughout the day as delegates took their committees and topics very seriously. In the US Senate, Senators debated the question of slavery and if the Union could possibly hold together. About an hour into committee, however, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate (Deputy Chair of Committee) made a scathing condemnation of the Union and led a walkout of 11 Senators who soon formed the Confederate State Senate. What once started as a committee to reinforce the strength of the Union soon turned into Joint Crisis Committees on the Civil War, with members on both sides reacting to crisis after crisis.

In the Ukraine Emergency Summit, delegates had to react quickly to the unfolding developments in region, from Russia’s invasion of Crimea to President Obama’s orders to send boots on the ground in retaliation. Delegates in the Historical Crisis Committee had their hands full, with the Indian Prime Minister assassinated by a rouge Pakistani terrorist and China’s decision to invade the Kashmir region. Even the committee delegates of ECOSOC didn’t cooperate for very long, as a discovery of rare minerals on the moon soon began a crisis over extraterrestrial control.

All in all, it was a weekend filled with excitement, suspense, and lively debate for all types of delegates; young and old, experienced and novice. Congratulations to all staff, advisers, and delegates on a great conference. The Senior Secretariat is looking forward to seeing you all again at next year’s conference, LABMUNC 2014!

Check out more pictures from the conference on LABMUNC’s Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and make sure to check out their 10th Anniversary Video!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to the following delegates and schools on their awards!

Security Council

Best Delegate: United Kingdom (Bronx High School of Science)

Outstanding Delegate: Koma Civaken Kurdistan (High School of American Studies)

Honorable Mention: New Zealand (Kings Park High School)

Honorable Mention: France (Choate Rosemary Hall

Historical Security Council (1979)

Best Delegate: Spain (High School of American Studies)

Outstanding Delegate: Mauritania (High School of American Studies)

Honorable Mention: Laos (Bronx High School of Science)

Honorable Mention: United Kingdom (Bronx High School of Science)

Historical Crisis Committee (1947)

Best Delegate: Lebanon (High School of American Studies)

Outstanding Delegate: Afghanistan (Bronx High School of Science)

Honorable Mention: India (The Beacon School)

Honorable Mention: Ireland (LaGuardia High School)

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Best Delegate: United Arab Emirates (Half Hollow Hills High School East)

Outstanding Delegate: Mauritania (High School of American Studies)

Honorable Mention: United States of America (Kings Park High School)

Honorable Mention: Spain (High School of American Studies)

Ukraine Emergency Summit

Best Delegate: United States of America (Kings Park High School)

Outstanding Delegate: Ukraine Parliamentary Delegation (High School of American Studies)

Honorable Mention: India (The Beacon School)

Honorable Mention: Peru (The Beacon School)

Human Rights Council

Best Delegate: France (Choate Rosemary School)

Outstanding Delegate: Central African Republic (The Beacon School)

Honorable Mention: India (The Beacon School)

Honorable Mention: Tanzania (LaGuardia High School)

Honorable Mention: Venezuela (Half Hollow Hills High School East)

United States Senate

Best Delegate: Pennsylvania (Immaculate Heart Academy)

Outstanding Delegate: New York (High School of American Studies)

Honorable Mention: New York (Bronx High School of Science)

Honorable Mention: Ohio

Confederate State Senate

Best Delegate: Louisiana (High School of American Studies)

Outstanding Delegate: South Carolina (Choate Rosemary Hall)

Honorable Mention: Alabama (Choate Rosemary Hall)

Honorable Mention: New Mexico Territory (The Beacon School)