One of the first things I noticed walking into the University of Pennsylvania Model United Nations Conference (UPMUNC) is how big the conference is and a delegate next to me remarked “well that’s because it’s the fall championship!” Indeed it is with over 1,000 delegates from 70 universities around the world attending this conference in Philadelphia. Check out all the action in our UPMUNC liveblog below! Also, make sure to check out the UPMUNC XLV Official Blog.
Like usual, we try to take pictures of delegates who were leading the committee and other delegates in action. We have photos from Opening Ceremonies as well as photos from every committee (except for Ad Hoc which will have its own featured article):
Opening Ceremonies
Penn IAA President Zach Stone introduces the UPMUNC Secretariat
Secretary-General Anant Shukla speaks during Opening Ceremonies
Keynote speaker Geoffrey Pyatt spoke about his career working in the State Department focusing on South and Central Asia
Bard College at Simon's Rock is ready to represent Sweden
Mount Holyoke College is excited for UPMUNC
Besides keynote speaker Geoffrey Pyatt, UPMUNC also hosted several other accomplished guest speakers over the weekend. Most notable was Jeffrey Sachs, the Director of The Earth Institute — anyone who has studied international relations or political science has likely read his work in their textbooks.
Jeffrey Sachs speaks to a packed room of eager students over teleconference
Now onto the committees:
Disarmament and International Security (DISEC)
Awesomeness in DISEC
India (NYU), China (U.Chicago), and Liberia (American) work on a resolution together in DISEC
Iraq (Florida State) and Pakistan (Mt. Holyoke) collaborate on a draft resolution in DISEC
Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian (SOCHUM)
China (U.Chicago) commands the entire caucus bloc's attention in SOCHUM
Viet Nam (Duke) lobbys for supporters for his draft resolution
France (West Point) and the United States (Georgetown) work on a resolution together in SOCHUM
Dominica (Florida State) tries to convince Costa Rica (Queen's University) to sign onto his draft resolution
Delegates exchange ideas during unmoderated caucus in SOCHUM
Delegates work hard on their draft resolution in SOCHUM
UN Climate Change Conference 2009 – Copenhagen
Indonesia (GWU) makes a speech in Copenhagen
Japan (BU) seeks to get the best ideas out of her caucus bloc allies in Copenhagen
Peru (Tulane) delivers a scathing speech against states that claim to be pro-clean oil like Saudi Arabia
Yemen (Stanford) and Switzerland (Rutgers) hash out their ideas together in Copenhagen
UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
Delegates in UNISDR are up early to work on their draft resolution before committee even started
Italy (Kenyon) speaks during moderated caucus in UNISDR
Indonesia (GWU) addresses the committee during moderated caucus in UNISDR
Costa Rica (Queen's University) makes his policies known in UNISDR
The United Kingdom (Harvard) articulates her points during moderated caucus in UNISDR
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)
Australia (Emory) makes a passionate speech in CCPCJ
Cote d'Ivoire (Virginia Tech) makes a speech in CCPCJ
Canada (GWU) proposes an idea in the CCPCJ
Iraq (Florida State) delivers her arguments in CCPCJ
Ghana (Tulane) speaks with another delegate during unmoderated caucus in the CCPCJ
Delegates defend their ideas during unmoderated caucus in the CCPCJ
Lesotho (Amherst College) and Uruguay (Colgate) look to see if they have similar policies as lesser-developed nations in the CCPCJ
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Netherlands (Michigan State) leads her caucus bloc in the UNHCR
Finland (Frostburg State) adds some good ideas to the caucus bloc in UNHCR
Delegates work hard on the draft resolutions in the UNHCR
Delegates are excited about their solutions in the UNHCR
World Health Organization
Power play -- China (U.Chicago), Australia (Emory), Egypt (WashU), and Rep. of Korea (Cornell) jockey for leadership of the caucus bloc in the WHO
Pirates of the Caribbean – Brethren Court
Delegates get in the spirit for the Pirates of the Caribbean - Brethren Court
Pirates of the Caribbean - Brethren Court chairs work with delegates
Pirates listen to the chairs' instructions in Pirates of the Caribbean - Brethren Court
Two pirates form an alliance and strategize together in Pirates of the Caribbean - Brethren Court
Pirates analyze the strategic positioning of the global shipping routes
Crisis staff is ready to wreak havoc on the pirates
United Nations Security Council 2020
The chairs of the UN Security Council 2020 smile for the camera
Egypt (WashU) speaks in the UN Security Council 2020
Saudi Arabia (Case Western Reserve University) demonstrates his argument to Russia (Yale)
Delegates participate in an intense unmoderated caucus in UNSC 2020
Bulgaria (U.S. Naval Academy) explains her opinions to another delegate
Delegates form their caucus bloc in the UNSC 2020
South Africa (Delaware) and Japan (Boston University) get a head start on their draft resolution
Xenothreat Conclave
A delegate makes an important point in the Xenothreat Conclave
Delegates engage in a discussion during unmoderated caucus in the Xenothreat Conclave
Delegates debate during unmoderated caucus in the Xenothreat Conclave
Titans of Industry
The dais of Titans of Industry is dressed up for the times
Richard Sears has to defend himself after the committee expresses its disapproval of his unilateral action to influence a Presidential election
Adolphus Busch grills Richard Sears in Titans of Industry
Cornelius Vanderbilt II is still angry at Richard Sears in Titans of Industry
Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, Mossad
Delegates listen to a crisis update in the Mossad
Delegates in the Mossad vote unanimously to take action in the Middle East
Crisis Staff
Crisis staff plans out the next crisis
Crisis staff hard at work
Overall, it looks like delegates are very engaged in debate and are enjoying UPMUNC!
