From January 31 to February 1, Huntington Beach High School hosted its 11th session of Surf City Model UN. Nearly 900 participants from West Coast high school delegations were in attendance, debating topics such as maritime security and the crisis in the Central African Republic.
Delegates vote in favor of a motion
The number of delegates attending Surf City MUN has increased from 700 to nearly 900 in the past three years, an aspect which can be mainly attributed to the quality of debate and preparedness of the staff and committee chairs. Under Secretary-General Paige Petrashko states that HBHSMUN trains their chairs to be “not only diligent, but also attentive during committee”. In turn, the conference attracts highly advanced delegates.
Colombia (Mira Costa) and Portugal (Edison) use the online resolution database to type up their working paper in UNHRC
Other than the competitive nature of the conference, two notable features were the integration of technology in committee and the conference’s philanthropy. Starting in last year’s conference, Surf City utilized an online resolution database and DaisLINK, an online program for Advisors to track their delegates’ progress in committee. “We are more technological than ever,” says Secretary-General Melanie Lin, “It’s helpful for the delegates and stimulates research and resolution writing.” DaisLINK, in particular, is a program unique to Surf City and allows Advisors to conveniently oversee how well their delegates are doing during committee.
One of ECOSOC’s topics was restoring the economy in the Philippines
Surf City XI hosted a joint fundraiser with HBHS’s Humanitarian Club to provide food aid to those in Syria and the Philippines. As Under Secretary-General Kevin Cruze mentions, “When [our MUN program] hosts a conference, we partner with our school’s charitable organizations to give back.” The conference cause was relevant to current events and issues discussed in committee—the Security Council addressed the Syrian Crisis, while WHO and ECOSOC had topics pertaining to the typhoon in the Philippines. Delegates raised $1,200 in support of the causes, with 1st DISEC and Historical Security Council raising the most for large and small committees, respectively.
Surf City MUN offered 22 General Assembly, ECOSOC, Regional and Specialized committees. Below are some highlights from these committees and the conference in general.
Delegates representing Germany (Santa Margarita) make a speech in Historical Security Council
Delegates in Ad Hoc on Terrorism vote on a moderated caucus
Sophomores of HBHSMUN competed in Surf City in order to get more experience in advanced committees
World Economic Forum Dias
The United Kingdom (Cerritos) leads an unmoderated caucus in General Assembly
Delegates in the EU finalize their working paper on human trafficking
Lunchtime for delegates in GA committees
Argentina (Huntington Beach), Ireland (Gahr), and Gabon (Cerritos) caucus in UN Women
Delegates working on resolutions during break time
Secretary-General Melanie Lin (center) and Under Secretary-Generals Kevin Cruze (left) and Paige Petrashko (right)
Russian Federation (PV Peninsula) during moderated caucus in Security Council
3rd SCH Dais
Venezula (Edison), Guatemala (Edison), and China (Santa Margarita) present a resolution on environmental refugees in UNHCR
China (Santa Margarita) speaks about a loan proposal in World Bank
Closing Ceremonies
Mira Costa High School won one of the two Best Large Delegation awards
Delegation Awards:
Best Large Delegation: Santa Margarita HS and Mira Costa HS
Best Small Delegation: Gahr HS and Irvine HS
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The Surf City XI album in its entirety can be viewed here!
