BosMUN Opening Ceremonies at the Park Plaza
The twelfth annual Boston Invitational Model United Nations (BosMUN) hosted the Boston University International Affairs Association (BU IAA) took place at the majestic Park Plaza Hotel this past weekend.
As we mentioned last year, BosMUN has a strong emphasis on delivering a high quality conference with an educational focus. The conference was at capacity with 1,400 delegates despite the Park Plaza being able to hold twice the amount of delegates due to the size caps that BosMUN puts on to ensure that committees are not to large. Over 30 committees were evenly distributed between General Assemblies, Economic and Social Councils, Specialized Agencies, and crisis committees that were primarily joint crises between national cabinets.
Some of the more unique substantive aspects of the conference included the NGO Forum which allowed NGO delegates to contribute to draft resolutions. Delegates could announce the support of NGOs to strengthen their resolutions. Some of the crisis committees experienced a midnight crisis, and even some of the Specialized Agencies experienced minor crises as BosMUN maintains a “floating crisis staff” unattached to any single committee that creates crises for committees in general.
Training sessions were held before the conference for beginner delegates, advanced delegates, and crisis delegates. In addition, delegates got to experience the Delegate Social Event and Delegate Dance. All of this was put on by a Secretariat and staff of over 150 members led by Secretary-General Samantha Weinberg. Speaking about the staff, BosMUN does a good job at recognizing the best daises within each USG group which helps contribute to the quality across committees, and BosMUN also has a tradition of recognizing its graduating seniors with a graduation cord at the end of the conference.
Advisors have their own special experience, which we cover in a section below. The main takeaway is that advisors are treated equally well in terms of the overall experience to make sure that BosMUN is enjoyable for them as well.
Here are several photos of the conference in action. Check out all the photos on the BosMUN photo album and more coverage on the BosMUN Press Corps!
Keynote speaker Patrick Webb, who worked as the Chief of Nutrition for the World Food Programme, spoke about fighting for the UN Ideals.
Here’s what Best Delegate fans thought of Patrick Webb’s speech
Delegates made new friends at BosMUN
A delegate makes a speech at BosMUN. Although General Assembly committees are still large, the size caps limit the committee size to half of what it could be and provides students with more opportunities to speak.
Delegates caucusing at BosMUN
A delegate speaks in the ICJ case on Nicaragua vs. Costa Rica
China (Chicago Lab) speaks in the UN Security Council
Delegates from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North at BosMUN
Delegates present their draft resolution
The BosMUN Advisor Experience
The BosMUN Secretariat conducts feedback over breakfast
BosMUN offers an experience that takes care of the faculty advisors. This includes a reception on the first night of the conference and breakfast at the hotel every morning — all of this is free as BosMUN doesn’t even charge an advisor fee! Feedback sessions are done in the morning instead of late at night after advisors have had adequate time to speak with their delegates, and because the quality of the conference is already high, advisors usually don’t have too many remarks.
Logistical issues are smooth and thought out — an example is having a supervised room for luggage storage so teams don’t have to worry about that after checkout — and any issues are quickly resolved as BosMUN maintains a highly accessible Secretariat work room and window whereas most conference Secretariats usually work hidden behind a staff suite.
In addition, I got to present a workshop to faculty advisors again and similar to last year the room was once again filled. This year’s presentation focused on “How to Prepare Students for Model UN Success.” Besides tips on preparing students for MUN conferences, advisors and I shared different ways for students to learn about the world and make a difference in the world outside of the committee room as high school students. As the conference draws advisors with an educational focus, we also discussed the role of awards in Model UN and how to maintain an emphasis on education within teams that may sometimes become distracted by awards and rankings.
Director-General Angela Farmer and Secretary-General Samantha Weinberg could be easily found in the staff window. Advisors appreciated the easy accessibility which made resolving any issues quick.
Delegation Awards
Chicago Lab won the Best Large Delegation award at BosMUN. This is their second delegation award in the city of Boston this year.
Best Large Delegation: University of Chicago Laboratory High School
Outstanding Large Delegation: West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North
Best Small Delegation: Concord Academy
Outstanding Small Delegation: Phillips Exeter Academy
Other teams that did well include Avon Old Farms School, Boston University Academy, Greenwich High School, Loomis Chaffee, Phillips Academy Andover, Ronald Reagan High School, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, St. Ignatius College Prep, and Tenafly High School among several other schools.
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Thank you to Secretary-General Samantha Weinberg and the entire BosMUN staff for your exceptional hospitality and congratulations on running a successful conference! Best Delegate is truly appreciative of BosMUN and we are always glad to see a conference that does things right.
Good luck to the BosMUN graduating seniors!
Congrats to the entire BosMUN team!
Don’t forget to check out the BosMUN photo album and the BosMUN Press Corps!
