This recap was provided by Ellisse Johnston, Secretary General of PUNC.
Opening Ceremony at PUNC
Over the course of a week-end, 140 students from across the United States, Canada, and even Israel travelled to The Pennsylvania United Nations Conference (PUNC) held at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park campus to participate in the fifth annual Model UN conference. On February 23-26, 2012, our conference was held at several on-campus locations including The Nittany Lion Inn and the Business Building.
What makes PUNC unique is how people oriented it is, we are more than just a standard Model UN conference, since our inception it has been a goal of ours to get to know our delegates as individuals. When we are not hanging out with our delegates, we aim to continue being one of the fastest growing, crisis-only simulation conferences on the East Coast. It is our belief that real life does not happen in a vacuum, therefore why should Model UN?
A delegate at PUNC
We had the pleasure of listening to Philip J Crowley at opening ceremonies, who discussed the importance of diplomacy and understanding the world around us, before launching our conference. Throughout the week-end our delegates were transported to another time in each of our eight committees, which ranged from the philosophical debate in the Vietnam Conflict, to attempting to survive an island in our Secret Committee, to trying to save the human race in our two futuristic committees, and more.
At the close of the conference our delegation award winners were as follows:
Best Large Delegation: University of Pittsburgh
Outstanding Large Delegation: University of Maryland
Best Small Delegation: Cornell University
Outstanding Small Delegation: United Israel
Delegates working in an unmoderated conference
The race was close to determine who would win delegation awards as we had so many wonderful contenders. In addition to the Model UN, and social aspects of the conference, we were able to raise $408.00 for Out of the Darkness, which focuses on suicide prevention and awareness, our philanthropic effort of the year.
To our delegates who attended, thank you for being there, we hope to see you, and many more, back for PUNC 2013!
A delegate asking opening ceremonies speaker P.J. Crowley a question
A delegate in moderated debate
Delegates in the crisis committee
