This recap has been provided by Kara DeSanna, Chief of External Relations for Southern United Nations Model United Nations (SUSMUN).
Delegates raise their placard to speak in one of SUSMUN’s ten committees.
The Southern United States Model United Nations (SUSMUN) held its fifth annual conference in Atlanta, GA from November 1-3, 2013. SUSMUN is sponsored by the International Model United Nations Association (IMUNA) and builds on the successful design of our sister conferences held annually in New York (NHSMUN) and San Francisco (RHSMUN). Since 2009, SUSMUN has established a new standard of educational excellence in the Southeast through its commitment to smaller committee sizes, a personalized delegate experience, and a diverse staff.
SUSMUN was warmly welcomed at its new home in the Hilton Atlanta hotel. Staff and delegates alike embraced SUSMUN’s new location right in the heart of the downtown area. Throughout the course of the weekend, 310 delegates addressed some of the world’s most pressing topics, including human trafficking, access to safe drinking water, and the legal issues of human cloning. SUSMUN’s keynote speaker, J.D. McCrary, Executive Director of the International Refugee Committee in Atlanta, noted how several of the topics being addressed in committee directly related to the work he does with his organization.
Even with all the exciting changes that took place at the conference this year, SUSMUN maintained its tradition of education through simulation. Nothing serves as more of a testament to that mission than the staggering success of the 2013 Service Learning Project (SLP), in partnership with Heifer International. The purpose of the SLP is to allow delegates to connect the topics they discuss in committee to real people and communities across the world. Thanks to the incredible passion exhibited by the delegates, faculty, and staff, SUSMUN is proud to announce that it raised an incredible $3,174.52 over the weekend. SUSMUN will be donating a wide range of gifts to Heifer International that includes water pumps, a family farm care package, and a variety of livestock. The delegates in each committee collaboratively decided on which projects to send their donations to, and SUSMUN will be donating over 16 gifts to the organization in total.
SUSMUN staff pose at closing ceremonies.
Although SUSMUN’s education philosophy deemphasizes individual awards, three delegations were recognized for their exceptional diplomatic skills. Richland Northeast High School received the Award of Merit, Hillsborough High School received the award of Excellence, and the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools received the Award of Distinction.
Secretary-General Kandasi Griffiths and Director-General Emily Padget pose with delegation award recipients.
Congratulations to everyone that made this year’s SUSMUN conference the most successful yet! Check out www.susmun.org for continued updates about the 2014 conference!
