Delegates discuss during an unmoderated caucus in their final crisis simulation at the Model United Nations Institute.

“You have to do crisis.”

When I started doing MUN, I was told this by several delegates. To me, crisis sounded like a whole different world.

Switching from general assembly to crisis can be stressful, but there are a few ways to ensure you survive your first crisis committee, while still having fun!

1. Write detailed crisis notes

The first piece of advice I received was to make my crisis notes detailed. You might feel a little silly requesting training for your agents from the CIA or drafting propaganda to recruit new soldiers (trust me, it’s a little strange at first), but your crisis notes should be detailed.

Try to answer who, what, where, when, why, and how in all of your crisis notes. For example, if you are requesting military aid from the United States, you shouldn’t say “I want soldiers to make my army bigger.” Who are you writing to? How many troops do you want, and where do you want to send them? Why do want them, and why should the United States help you? By when should the soldiers arrive, and how will they get to their destination?

The more detail you include, the more likely your personal directives will be passed.

2. Make your crisis notes interesting

The crisis directors go through more crisis notes in a day than you could imagine. Eventually, they are going to get tired of reading the same things over and over.

Your crisis notes should not only be detailed, but interesting for the crisis directors to read as well. As a fiction writer, I found it easy to make my crisis notes sound like a story. I passed every personal directive I sent back, because the crisis directors found them interesting to read.

For example, if you want to draft propaganda, don’t write “I want to spread propaganda in order to recruit more soldiers”. Write out the propaganda! Imagine that you are really there, and write what you think would be effective material for that time.

Take advantage of what crisis allows you to do. You might think it’s odd to draft your own propaganda or write a letter to the director of the CIA, but that’s what makes crisis so fun, and it will help further your crisis arc.

3. Don’t try to assassinate everyone

The main thing everyone knows about crisis is, yes, you can assassinate other delegates in the committee. However, some committees won’t allow you to, and many look down upon it.

In a joint crisis simulation I did at the MUN Institute, my committee lost, because there was an assassination attempt that took the focus away from solving the urgent matter at hand. Don’t be that delegate. While it might sound funny to try to assassinate your enemies in committee, it’s better to further your crisis arc instead.

4. Be willing to go against the committee

In crisis, your committee does not have to win in order for you to succeed. Sometimes, your portfolio power may have a completely different agenda than the committee does. Don’t be afraid to push this in your private directives.

However, you must be secretive about this, if you are planning on going against your committee. I would not recommend standing up in a committee on the containment of communism and announcing that you are a Soviet spy. Instead, ensure that you focus on building your crisis arc through your crisis notes. Who knows how you might alter the course of the crisis?

5. Multitask, multitask, multitask

It’s still important to speak during a crisis committee! Multitasking is key.

When you’re writing crisis notes, receiving crisis updates, and trying to draft directives, it’s easy to decide not to speak during moderated caucuses. If you are looking to win an award in crisis, you should learn how to multitask.

It can be tricky at first, but it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it. The best way to ensure you speak as often as possible, while still writing detailed crisis notes, is to know what you want to say in your crisis notes beforehand. You will spend less time trying to figure out what to write, which will allow you to pass as many directives as possible and still speak.

The piece of advice that saved me in crisis was “have your pen in one hand and your placard in the other”. While you are writing your directives, be ready to speak.

**

Though crisis can be stressful, it’s incredibly fun. Remember these few tips, and remember to enjoy your time in committee!

Walking down aisles filled to the brim while thousands of students and advisors craning their necks to see who the “Best Delegate” of that committee is – well, that’s the dream. For Model UN delegates across the world, gaveling is an integral part of why we do what we do. It justifies the hours of research we put in, the sleepless nights we have the week before the conference, and the gallons of coffee and carbonated sugar we consume to try to stay active. Generally, gaveling refers to winning the award of “Best Delegate” that is given to one delegation per committee. This award usually encompasses a certificate and gavel – and the sheer pride that you were considered the best delegate of the committee.

But as great as a gavel is, it can also hurt you. Here are a few reasons why it is great to gavel…and why it isn’t.

Gaveling helps you increase your confidence…

After spending countless hours on research and preparation, coming home with a gavel to prove it all can be extremely rewarding. The extra place on your trophy shelf can be a consistent reminder to persevere for what you want and to work hard for your goals.

…but makes it easy to become overconfident.

On the other hand, earning a gavel can make you think that MUN is less work. You mastered the formula so why do you need to do all that work again? While you might need to invest less time in your next conference, that certainly does not mean that you can give up on learning MUN skills. There is always room to improve; not recognizing that can be a disastrous mistake at your next conference.

Gaveling can open doors to leadership roles…

Earning a gavel can be an effective way of gaining leadership opportunities within your schools Model UN team. Whether that means running for an officer position or simply playing a more prominent role during preparation time, showing that you can invest your time and energy makes you a much more meaningful candidate for leadership opportunities.

…but you might start to slack off.

Earning a gavel doesn’t always mean that you’ve mastered the “magic” formula. It’s a recurring phenomenon to see delegates who start to win awards slack off at their team meetings or their responsibilities. Whether it’s training novice members or simply keeping track of the clubs finances, a gavel doesn’t warrant forfeiting your responsibilities to your teammates.

Gaveling makes it easer to help others on your team…

After winning an award, you might notice that novice members often flock towards you for advice – and that’s a good thing! Gaveling at a conference can give you the credibility to help train novice members so that they can start winning awards too. A major component of being a team player is passing off your knowledge to those who come after you. Getting a gavel can give you the reassurance that you have the credibility and ability to do so.

…but you could lose your sense of diplomacy.

Wanting to keep all of your information and ideas to yourself can often work against you. As a team member, your teammates expect you to offer advice and input on situations. Losing a sense of helpfulness in an attempt to keep your secrets can make you lose respect in the eyes of your teammates.

**

All in all, gaveling is a rewarding experience. The feeling that you get after spending months researching and investing time into a topic to finally be rewarded is unexplainable. Just recognize that what you do after you gavel is up to you. You can use that experience to help yourself and others or you can you use it as a strategy. Whatever you decide, just remember to have fun! Model UN is about diplomacy and international relations but the most important part of any committee is to enjoy yourself!

Best Delegate is a global education organization with a mission of preparing today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders through Model United Nations. Our goal is MUN for ALL – we want to provide world-class MUN training and resources to as many students as possible around the world. We support the Model UN community through hosting the Model United Nations Institute, offering resources for advisors at MUN Education, conducting MUN workshops around the world, consulting for major MUN non-profits, and providing MUN resources on BestDelegate.com.

The Best Delegate team is seeking to recruit A-players who are fueled by a passion to give back their MUN experiences to the global Model UN community – to bring out the best in other delegates. We operate in a fast-paced, startup-like environment that values world-class results, professionalism, and openness to feedback among the team.

There are currently 11 positions available on the Global Media Team. Applicants may apply for any position. Applications are due Sunday, October 7th at 11:59PM. Highly qualified candidates will be selected for an interview. Positions will start on October 15th or soon thereafter.

Global Media Team

The Global Media Team has a mission of providing the best Model UN website resources and articles to the global MUN community. The team collectively manages the Best Delegate website, our main site that hosts training content and community news. They also manage MUNInstitute.com, the homepage for the MUN Institute and all Alumni content; and MUN-ed.com, home of MUN Education, which provides resources for MUN Advisors.

The team consist of an Editor-in-Chief, 2 Editors, 8 Media Associates, and 2 independent managers. The service term for all positions is from October 15, 2018 to May 30, 2019.

• The Editor-in-Chief position oversees the 2 Editors and 2 independent managers. It ideal for those with a great deal of prior experience at Best Delegate and the position is paid a competitive stipend.
• The Editor of MUN Institute & MUN Education Content is also paid a competitive stipend and oversees the following Media Associates:
  • MUN Institute Associate
  • MUN Institute Associate
  • MUN Education Associate
  • Core Team Associate
• The Editor of Best Delegate Content is also paid a competitive stipend and oversees the following Media Associates:
  • MUN Training Associate
  • MUN Training Associate
  • High School MUN Associate
  • College MUN Associate
• Media Associate positions are ideal for MUN leaders looking to make a difference in the broader MUN community, and positions are available for university students, high school students, and MUN Institute alumni to serve their respective audiences. Media Associates are paid a competitive stipend.
• Independent Manager positions are ideal for individuals with specific skills – currently, we’re looking for a Conference Database Manager. All manager positions are paid a competitive stipend.

Read the in-depth job descriptions for the positions available on the Global Media Team here!

If you’re interested in joining the team, apply by clicking here! Applications are due October 7th at 11:59PM PST. Questions can be sent to Conna at conna@nullbestdelegate.com.

Don’t miss out on an amazing opportunity to join the Best Delegate Global Media Team! We are seeking to recruit A-players who are fueled by a passion to give back their MUN experiences to the global Model UN community – to bring out the best in other delegates. We operate in a fast-paced, startup-like environment that values world-class results, professionalism, and openness to feedback among the team.

There are currently 11 positions available on the Global Media Team. Applicants may apply for any position; all positions come with a competitive stipend. Applications are due Sunday, October 7th at 11:59PM. Highly qualified candidates will be selected for an interview. Positions will start on October 15th or soon thereafter.

The Global Media Team has a mission of providing the best Model UN website resources and articles to the global MUN community. The team collectively manages the Best Delegate website, our main site that hosts training content and community news. They also manage MUNInstitute.com, the homepage for the MUN Institute and all Alumni content; and MUN-ed.com, home of MUN Education, which provides resources for MUN Advisors.

The team consist of an Editor-in-Chief, 2 Editors, 8 Media Associates, and 2 independent managers. All positions are paid a competitive stipend.  The service term for all positions is from October 15, 2018 to May 31, 2019.

Read the in-depth job descriptions for the positions available on the Global Media Team here!

If you’re interested in joining the team, apply by clicking here! Applications are due October 7th at 11:59PM PST. Questions can be sent to Conna at conna@nullbestdelegate.com.

Each year, Best Delegate is proud to work with an array of talented and passionate MUNers from around the world to bring you, our audience, the best possible content on topics you care about. From MUN training to community news, the Media Team is here to keep you updates on the latest. Please welcome the 2018-2019 Media Team!

Elaine Miao
Editor-in-Chief

Elaine is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying political science theory and public health at UCLA. She has lived in four different states, but considers a small town outside Boston, Massachusetts her home. Her Model UN career began 8 years ago, when she impulsively signed up at her high school’s activities fair, and her love for the extracurricular has only grown since. In college, she actively competes and runs conferences with her MUN team, and serves as one of three head delegates for UCLA. Outside of MUN, Elaine enjoys singing alto in her a cappella group, cooking, and telling her friends that the east coast is better. After graduation, she aspires to work on federal education policy and eventually going to law school.

Curan VanDerWielen
Editor of MUN Institute & MUN Education Content

Curan VanDerWielen is a Sophomore at Clark University, where he studies International Development and Geography, with a minor in Political Science. Ever since his first Model UN conference, Curan has always held a passion for MUN both as an activity and a community. In high school, Curan co-founded a regional middle school level conference, served as a student advisor for a local middle school team, enrolled in the MUN Institute in 2015, and was later appointed Executive President of EISJMUN in Dubai, UAE. Last year, he was a Crisis Director at ClarkMUN VIII, and now dually serves as Director of Operations at ClarkMUN XI and as a Conference Management Officer at WIMUN NYC. He’s extremely excited to be working for Best Delegate again after his serving as a MUN Mentor at the MUN Institute this past summer. In his spare time, Curan enjoys traveling, drinking lots of tea, playing video games, and skiing.

Munahil Sultana
Media Associate of MUN Institute Content

Hey everyone! My name is Munahil Sultana and it is truly an honor to serve as a Best Delegate Media Associate. I am currently a junior at Elmont Memorial High School in Long Island, New York. I joined Model United Nations in the seventh grade and I’ve been an avid member ever since. I am currently the President of my schools team and the Secretary-General for the Sewanhaka Intra-District Model UN Conference (SIDMUN). My journey from a shy, timid delegate to one who isn’t afraid to voice her opinion can be traced back to the training I was able to have. Model UN allowed me to step out of my shell and ceases to be just an “extracurricular activity”. It is the source of my achievements both inside and outside of a committee room. Over the past four years, I have attended multiple conferences and have won awards such as Best Delegate in the past. Besides Model UN, I am also President of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Key Club as well as multiple honor societies and extracurriculars. I am extremely excited to be working with Best Delegate for a second year as well as for releasing new content!

Jocelyn Koelb
Media Associate of MUN Institute Content

Hello everyone! My name is Jocelyn Koelb and it is truly an honor to be serving as a Media Associate on the Best Delegate Media Team. I am currently a homeschooled high school junior from New Hampshire, and I serve as the president of my Model UN team at Mosaic Explore. I started Model UN in eighth grade, and have been in love with it ever since. Ever since I started, Best Delegate has been my main source of information for training, strategy, and everything in between. Two summers ago, I decided I wanted to take my performance as a crisis delegate to the next level, so I attended the Best Delegate MUN Institute Crisis program. I had an incredible time, and have won numerous awards in crisis committees since then. Outside of Model UN, I love anything science-related, and I was lucky enough to spend this summer researching cancerous transcription factors at a MIT lab. In the future, I hope to pursue a medical degree and continue my Model UN career on the college circuit. I’m looking forward to working with Best Delegate and the Media Team this year!

Kaitlyn Hammond
Media Associate of MUN Institute Content

Kaitlyn Hammond is a senior at Communications High School in New Jersey. She is so excited to be returning to the Best Delegate Media Team! Two years ago, she found a love for journalism as a feature writer for her school’s newspaper, The Inkblot News. She is now the Arts Editor of The Inkblot, and looks forward to bringing her passion for journalism back to Best Delegate this year. Outside of MUN and journalism, Kaitlyn enjoys creative writing, reading, and hosting her two radio shows on her school’s station, WCHS.

Victoria Melkonyan
Media Associate of MUN Education Content

Victoria is a sophomore at Mt. Greylock Regional School who has been doing MUN for three years. She loves eighties pop, Studio Ghibli films, and playing the piano. When she isn’t doing MUN, she’s probably doing some sort of theater!

Khai Nguyen
Media Associate of Core Team Content

Hi everyone! My name is Khai, and I am currently a senior at Chantilly High School located in Chantilly, VA. I first started Model UN in 8th grade where I spent most of that year as a “back row” delegate, however after reading several Best Delegate articles and joining my high school’s club, I have grown to love Model UN and can constantly be found working on something MUN related. Examples of this include, but are not limited to, being a Crisis Czar for committees such as JCC Cuban Missile Crisis: USA or the Joint Ad-Hoc Committee of the Secretaries-General, chairing a variety of committees for conferences and club wide mocks, or fulfilling other Model UN responsibilities as Director-General of Chantilly MUN. Outside of my Model UN and school commitments however, I spend my time as a U.S. Wushu Team Member, a swim coach, and sadly, playing Tetris on a competitive level.

Genevieve Pool
Editor of Best Delegate Content

Genevieve is a senior at Georgetown University, studying Culture and Politics in the School of Foreign Service. She has been involved in Model UN throughout college, from staffing to traveling. Gen spends most of her time meditating, talking about Rwanda (where she worked last summer), and making really bad jokes. She’s excited to return to the media team in a new role and maximize Best Delegate’s impact in the MUN community!

Zoey Fisher
Media Associate of Training Content

Zoey Fisher is a sophomore at David Posnack Jewish Day School in South Florida. Since before her eight grade year, Zoey has attended Best Delegate Model United Nations Institute every summer, and it is there that her passion for MUN was born. She has served as Head Delegate for her school’s Model UN team since her Freshman year, and has single-handedly trained over 30 beginner delegates to compete at the international level. Outside of school, Zoey is the co-founder and president of South Florida Model UN, an independent team that competes on the local level. When she is not MUN-ing, Zoey enjoys creative writing, participating in her school’s musical (even though she can’t sing or dance), swimming on the swim team, and volunteering at the hospital. Last year Zoey served as a Media Associate for Community Development and she can’t wait to continue writing for Best Delegate, this time as an associate for training!

Mohammed Iqbal Omar
Media Associate of Training Content

I am Mohammed (or Mo) and I’m currently on my deferred year with the University of Essex studying Political Science and International Relations. I am an Indian and was the head of my District’s first Model UN team about two years ago when I first started doing Model UN. Two years and tons of Model UN Conferences later I am a Model UN Trainer who has trained over 80 Students in North American and UN4MUN Formats and was the Vice President of local Model UN organization aiming to spread Model UN in Southern parts of India. I’ve been a Research Analyst and am a Research Intern for one of India’s most prominent Think-tanks and one of India’s major opposition parties respectively. I’ve worked with Model UN Organisations like United Ambassadors and WFUNA and will be a member of the Academic Secretariat at WIMUN 2019. Apart from Model UN, I love playing Snooker although admittedly I’m mediocre at best and love reading. I am really excited and honored to be one of Best Delegates highly qualified Training Content team for this year.

Brian Johnson
Media Associate of Training Content

Elisa Moraes Liu
Media Associate of High School Content

Elisa Moraes-Liu is a high-school junior from California. She began her Model UN career during her freshman year, and since then has been actively involved in MUN. Elisa currently serves as the USG of Outreach for Henry M. Gunn High School’s Model UN team. She also founded and directs two middle-school MUN programs at local schools, and she hopes to help more students get involved in MUN. Outside of MUN, Elisa is involved in journalism and serves as an editor for her school newspaper, The Oracle. She also helps run the City of Palo Alto’s Teen Arts Council, which organizes a variety of art events throughout the year for local middle and high-school students. Elisa is excited to be serving as a Best Delegate Media Associate of High School Content.

Jack Tapay
Media Associate of High School Content

Jack Tapay is a junior at the Bronx High School of Science and has been a part of the SciMUN team ever since he was a freshman. Throughout his MUN career, Jack has competed on the local and national circuit, chaired committees, and developed a passion for international relations. Having previously attended the MUN Institute’s Crisis Program and made frequent use of Best Delegate’s resources, he is eager to contribute to the community as a member of the Media Team.

Abhiram Reddy
Media Associate of College Content

Abhiram Reddy is a third-year student at the University of Southern California majoring in International Relations with minors in Economics and East Asian Area Studies. He was born and raised in Woodridge, Illinois but has also lived in Hyderabad, India. Abhiram has been participating in Model U.N. conferences for 7 years at both the high school and collegiate levels. He is also currently an active member of USC’s team and is a passionate crisis delegate. In his free time he enjoys traveling, finding the best Thai food in Los Angeles, and planning his next Disneyland trip. He is extremely excited to serve as a Media Associate for College Content over the next year.

Madeleine Northfield
Social Media Manager

Madeleine Northfield was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. She is a second year student at McGill University in Montreal studying International Development, Economics and African History. With over 6 years of MUN experience and 20 conferences under her belt, she is a part of McGill’s highly ranked travel team, as well as an active member of their International Relations publication, the MIR Online. An avid volunteer, she has worked on a variety of campaigns regarding women’s education overseas and in Canada, helping coordinate McGill’s international relations societies NGO, Jr. Peacemakers. She is incredibly excited to be working to expand Best Delegate’s media platforms even further and hopefully increase the amount of fantastic work they do.

Noran Alaa
Multimedia Manager

Noran Alaa is an Egyptian college student studying Multimedia Journalism and Digital Media at the American University in Cairo. Having grown up through the Egyptian Revolution, Noran is passionate about helping young people become more aware of the world and how to change it for the better; through Media. Noran has been participating in Model UN since she was a freshman in High School. She served as a Public Information Officer in WIMUN NY 2017 & 2018 and is going to serve as USG DPI for WIMUN New York 2019. She has also served as USG DPI for WIMUN India 2018. When she’s not working, she’s either writing for travel publications, taking photos or painting.

Anusha Tummallapalli
Conference Database Manager

Anusha Tummallapalli is a freshman at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina majoring in Economics and minoring in Spanish. She was a Media Associate of MUNI Alumni last year and is a two-time alumna of MUNI, enrolled in the Diplomat program in 2016 and the Secretary-General program in 2017. She currently serves as the Communications Director of her collegiate Model UN team and is a brother in the professional business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. Her favorite aspect of Model UN is chairing and conference organizing and hopes to further pursue this interest during her collegiate Model UN career. Anusha is looking forward to another great year with Best Delegate!

This recap article was provided by NCSC’s Secretary-General Suraag Srinivas and Executive Director Avery League.

From October 18-21, 2018, the 46th iteration of the National Collegiate Security Conference (NCSC), hosted by the Georgetown International Relations Association, was a successful showcase of high quality debate, negotiation, and crisis performed by the most talented delegates on the collegiate Model United Nations circuit. This year, the conference saw its highest registration numbers to date, welcoming over 700 delegates from around the country and world to the nation’s capital. This was an exciting watershed year in NCSC history, as it was the conference’s first year at the DoubleTree Crystal City. This new location brought NCSC within ten minutes of downtown Washington, DC.

The conference opened with an enthralling speech by Her Excellency Dina Kawar, the Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United States. Confident and charismatic, Ambassador Kawar compelled delegates to pursues their principles in the international arena with bravery and character. Given NCSC’s security-focused brand, the fact that Ambassador Kawar has herself presided over the United Nations Security Council made her words particularly powerful. Opening Ceremonies also included a persuasive presentation by Craig Herb on the international philanthropy Room to Read, which promotes girls’ literacy and education around the world. By the end of the conference, delegates and staff had raised over $4,000 for Room to Read programs in Tanzania.

Once the conference was gaveled in, delegates were immediately challenged by the complicated international issues of the modern world. In the 2007 United Nations Security Council, delegates wrestled with controversial United Nations peacekeeping missions and the global rise in terrorism. In the 1993 Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe, delegates were pushed to address interethnic tensions and increases in nationalist sentiment across the continent. In the 1967 Sino-Soviet Split Joint Crisis Committee, delegates represented two of the most dominant global powers of recent memory during crucial periods of their histories. Not to be forgotten, the Ad-Hoc Committee of the Secretary-General delved into the potential power behind student movements in the United States.

Across three days of intense negotiation and strategy, delegates were prompted to consider the concept that “reality is a dangerous game.” Delegates were expected to implement high-level strategy and operate as bold players in competitive rooms, but still recognize the weight of the consequences that decisions made in committee would have in reality. In all of it, NCSC maintained its commitment to modern, realistic, and security-focused committee substance.

Finally, delegation awards were presented to the following universities:

Outstanding Small Delegation: McGill University
Best Small Delegation: Claremont McKenna College
Outstanding Large Delegation: Harvard University
Best Large Delegation: Florida International University

After a year of hard work and preparation, Secretary-General Suraag Srinivas and Executive Director Avery League would like to thank the Board of the Georgetown International Relations Association, the Senior and General Staff from Georgetown University, and each and every delegate for making this conference a reality. With that, NCSC looks forward to another successful conference in October of 2019.

Delegates in a rousing discussion in a crisis simulation.

Delegates working together outside of the committee room.

The Secretariat of NCSC XLVI

This article was written by Elisa Moraes-Liu, a Best Delegate Media Associate and Chair/Secretariat member at GMUNC V.

To start off the MUN season in the San Francisco Bay Area MUN circuit, Henry M. Gunn High School hosted their fifth annual conference, GMUNC, on Oct. 20 2018. Featuring 8 committees chaired by students from Gunn High School and Stanford University, GMUNC attracted over 400 delegates from across the Bay Area. Committees ranged from traditional general assembly assemblies, such as SOCHUM and DISEC, to unique options such as Gunn Venture Capital (GVC).

The conference started at promptly 9 a.m with speeches from the Director-General Ryan Li and keynote speaker Sakshi Satpathy. Satpathy, member and USG of Gunn Model UN, had recently been honored at the United Nations in New York, receiving the Girl Scout Gold Award for her work spreading awareness in human trafficking and child marriage.

Director-general introduces chairs during the opening ceremony

Delegates spent the day debating a variety of topics, ranging from the war on terror to the implications of offshore detention centers. During lunch, they purchased food from food trucks serving Mediterranean food, crepes, and boba, allowing them to fuel up for the heated debate that followed. 

This year, GMUNC hosted a specialized committee called Gunn Venture Capital (GVC), which was inspired by BMUNs Berkeley Venture Capital. GVC delegates worked to solve the crisis of food security while veering from the traditional MUN committee style by representing entrepreneurs and trailblazers in the “Gunn Venture Capital Firm.” The objective for GVC delegates was to create a business model and start-up instead of working to create a UN-style resolution. During Unmod, delegates would create teams of 3-4 with similar business ideas, and together create a startup which they would later present to the funding investors (chairs).  Delegates pitched their ideas to the dais throughout the day, explaining and elaborating on their new and existing projects, and if the investors were sufficiently convinced and confident about their ideas, they would receive more funding to continue the cycle of investment.

Delegates also participated in traditional MUN committees, such as SOCHUM and DISEC which discussed the topics of education and offshore detention centers respectively. These committees were catered towards beginner delegates and offered a slow style of debate that welcomed delegates just starting off their careers.

UNHCR delegates in committee

GMUNC also had its share of high-stakes crisis committees, including the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOPOTUS). Delegates in EOPOTUS debated the pressing issue of Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, dealing with issues such as the annexation of Crimea and intervention in Ukraine.

At the end of an exciting day of debate, the secretariat awarded the Secretary-General’s award to the following schools:

Best Large Delegation: Monta Vista High School

Best Small Delegation: International High School

Delegates discussing a resolution

In Model United Nations, it’s easy to overlook the great experience that can be had from networking. At a typical three or four day conference, it’s likely you’ll refer to the people you meet as their country or character, without ever getting to know their real name. You’ll remember their fantastic speech on nuclear proliferation, but may never know what school they go to or what their favorite hobby is (besides MUN of course). In some of the committees I’ve been in, delegates have passed around a piece of paper on the last day, with our real names and social media information included so we can all follow each other. Typically, that’s the extent of the friendship: meet, build a rapport during debate, say hello at the delegate dance and congratulate each other after closing ceremonies. I love MUN, but at least in my experience, it’s been hard to build real, lasting friendships during a debate-packed, sleep-deprived weekend.

This spring, MUN Impact is hosting a number of events geared towards young Model United Nations participants from all over the world. MUN Impact is a global community that, “believes in the power of Model United Nations to inform, inspire, and motivate its participants to action in support of the SDGs.” Founded in 2017, MUN Impact is an organization of MUN participants, advisors, clubs, and conferences that work together to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On Friday, April 12th, 2019, MUN Impact is hosting the United Nations MUN Impact Youth Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Working in conjunction with the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI), MUN Impact will help young delegates from around the world connect and work on concrete solutions to achieve the SDGs, as well as how to connect their home MUN programs with the United Nations.

Open to students ages 15-24, the United Nations MUN Impact Youth Summit also gives MUN participants the chance to submit a presentation about their own projects to promote and achieve the SDGs. Interested parties can learn more about proposal submissions here. For questions and Summit registration, please contact education-outreach@nullun.org.

MUN Impact will also host the Planning for Impact Conference on Saturday, April 13th, 2019. This workshop will, “help students and teachers incorporate action and service projects that support the SDGs through their MUN involvement.” Taking place in New York City, the conference will focus on student activism and provide sessions on how MUN organizations can work in their own communities to promote the SDGs. This event is open only to high school students, and will be facilitated by experienced Model United Nations delegates to provide feedback and guidance on all projects. Pre-registration is now open for the conference.

Applications are also open for the student-led Executive Team for the Planning for Impact Conference! The Executive Team will reflect the diversity and global nature of the MUN Impact community. Preference will be given to current MUN Impact students who have been actively involved in the organization. Applications are due on December 9th; please see the application form here.

We’re so excited to announce that registration is open for this upcoming year’s iteration of the Model United Nations Institute by Best Delegate. We’ve been hard at work for months to prepare for this day, and we’re so excited to share it with you.

You may wonder why, in crisis committees, your notes don’t always get passed, your plans aren’t always revealed, and all the updates seem to be going in one specific direction. This is because prior to the start of a conference, some crisis directors plan out the outcomes of their committees in advance. They know more or less how they want to the committee to end, and what challenges they want delegates to overcome along the way. On the other hand, many crisis directors decide along the way how the crisis will go based on delegates’ actions. So how can you, as a delegate, know what the crisis directors are looking for? You merely have to step into their shoes and think like a crisis director!  

Each crisis committee has a  crisis tree, which is the equivalent of a personal crisis arc, but for the committee as a whole. Crisis directors use crisis trees to plan crisis updates and predict how delegates respond. Thorough, in-depth research will allow you to predict some of the possible crisis updates. By reading the background guide, you can think of your own responses to these updates before they even happen and be ready to respond in committee. For example, if the background guide mentions the specific start date, you can research significant events that occurred near or on that day that relate to your topic. Then, you can brainstorm possible directive ideas or solutions to these crises before hand, so you will not be caught off guard in committee.  

Crisis Director’s Arc

Once committee starts, try to use the updates to figure out which path is being taken, and how you can fit your own personal arc into it. Many times, crisis directors will not pass notes that push for plans that have nothing to do with the larger goal of the committee. It’s important that you figure out what this “larger goal” is by noticing the pattern of crisis updates, and somehow use your plans to advance it. When you begin to notice that your plans are not being passed, try to refocus your arc to align more with what is occurring in committee.If you do this, crisis directors are more likely to follow through with your crisis arc.

When actually writing your notes, it’s important that you also “think like a crisis director”. This means baring in mind what crisis directors want to see in notes. In order to do this there are a few areas to keep in mind: time constraints, character, and story.

If you want to increase your chances of getting your notes passed, it’s helpful to illustrate whenever you can and highlighting the key points of your plan. Example illustrations could be of propaganda posters, war plans, or other maps/diagrams. By seeing your illustration, crisis directors will be more likely to recreate your plan in committee because they know exactly how you want it to proceed, and your notes will be easier and faster to read.

Crisis suite in action

A good crisis arc is one that is multi-step. It would help if you were carrying out small actions in your crisis notes that build off one another to create a bigger picture and culminate in one climactic action. Crisis directors don’t like it when delegates deviate from their plan and start sending disjointed notes that have nothing to do with one another. It’s much more interesting and easier for crisis analysts to follow if your notes plot and character. By adding character, you can showcase the research you have done and make notes more engaging for crisis staffers who have to read sometimes hundreds per committee session! Examples of how to do this would add a line or two in the language your character speaks, a signature/famous quote or line form your character, political slogans, and details about your character’s personal life that show in-depth research.

That said, the most flexible crisis delegates get to know their Crisis Director’s style! It’s impossible to predict what any given individual is looking for, so above all it’s important think like your Crisis Director.

This guest article was written by Chase Wagers, a junior at Georgetown University and the Secretary-General of NAIMUN LVI.

After more than a decade, the 56th North American Invitational Model United Nations Conference (NAIMUN LVI) is bringing back the Ad-Hoc Committee of the Secretary-General. As NAIMUN is de facto championship conference on the high school circuit, it’s only fitting that there should also be a de facto championship for crisis committees: the Ad-Hoc.

NAIMUN is run by the Georgetown International Relations Association and the 56th conference will be held from February 14th-17th, 2019. NAIMUN is known for its core educational values which provide delegates the opportunity to engage with global issues and learn about new perspectives. Through 39 wide-ranging committees, NAIMUN challenges over 3,000 high school students from around the world to immerse themselves in spirited debate regarding the world’s most pressing issues.

NAIMUN 2018 committee session

In general, crisis committees have become increasingly popular on the general high school circuit, following the trend seen in the college circuit, as both delegates and secretariat have found value in these fast-paced simulations that provide each delegate with an unexpected and formative experience at the end of the conference. Though General Assemblies and Economic and Social Councils (ECOSOCs) are still the foundation of Model UN, staying true to its roots as a simulation of the United Nation, crisis committees push these foundational skills to the next level. Specifically, Ad-Hoc Committees require delegates to take skills of leading, speaking, and writing, and implement and improve upon them in the most unexpected and fascinating scenarios.

As Chair Suraag Srinivas explains, “The traditional Ad-Hoc Committee structure was conceived as a way to test the skills of the best delegates at a conference by removing the opportunity to do extensive research and instead challenging delegates with a topic presented on the spot.” The Ad-Hoc committee structure requires successful delegates to be not only knowledgeable about a vast array of topics in international affairs and history but also creative, spontaneous, and confident. Delegates will learn to to tackle crisis situations even with minimal knowledge on the topic.

While this Ad-Hoc Committee will challenge delegates to make decisions with limited preparation, Srinivas and Crisis Manager Margaret Hodson have planned the release of certain clues which will provide delegates the opportunity to begin using their analytical and critical thinking skills even before the conference is gaveled in.

According to the Chair and Crisis Manager, these clues will give delegates “small insights into segments of the committee, from a geographic region to hints towards individual portfolio powers. Delegates who decipher these clues give themselves the opportunity to research and prepare for aspects of the committee.” Through the release of clues, Srinivas and Hodson hope to encourage and develop creative thinking, problem-solving skills, and a knowledge of a topic not traditionally taught in school.

So far, feedback from moderators and head delegates on the Ad-Hoc Committee and its build-up has been positive. Schools are excited to see how NAIMUN continues to challenge their delegates and ultimately provide formative educational experiences.

A crisis committee session at NAIMUN 2018

Under-Secretary-General of Cabinets, Siddharth Muchhal, noted the importance of the Ad-hoc experience for delegates. “Crisis committees in Model UN are meant to be a simulation of real-world crises, where leaders often don’t have the opportunity to sit down and research a crisis before it arises. They have to work with what they know, and often work past divides to create consensus with colleagues and make timely responses. I’m confident this committee will be a unique, engaging, and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.”

The reintroduction of the Ad-Hoc Committee highlights a larger trend of innovation within the conference, reflecting the changing high school circuit. Along with the addition of the Ad-Hoc Committee, the NAIMUN Cabinets Organ will also be reintroducing the JCC structure, this time focused on the Spain-Catalonia regional conflict. NAIMUN will also be expanding their National Security Apparatus Organ to include intelligence branches from multiple countries and will be introducing the Book Award as a way to recognize delegates for their exceptional research and substantive debate.

Overall, the Ad-Hoc Committee of the Secretary-General at NAIMUN LVI will be an unparalleled educational experience for the world’s best crisis delegates, and will continue the trend of dynamic innovation on the high school Model UN circuit. For more information on NAIMUN, please visit naimun.modelun.org or e-mail naimunsg@nullmodelun.org

At the head of every Model UN program, there is a collection of individuals who are the embodiment of an ideal delegate. They represent the values that Model UN prides itself upon, and serve as a role model to others for the qualities they possess. However, above all, they are among the most selfless members of the Model UN Circuit, given the sacrifices they make for their delegation and community.

Given the geographical diversity of the Model UN community, the collection of these individuals is referred to by many names. Although many refer to them as an Officer Panel, to some, they are the Board of Directors, and to others, a delegation’s Secretariat. In the case of Best Delegate however, they are the Core Team.

The Best Delegate Core Team is composed of the distinguished members that have actively worked to promote Best Delegate and her interests amongst the global population, both inside and out of the Model UN Circuit. They work to ensure the continuation of the Best Delegate website, that publicizes MUN education resources accessible by the international community, in addition to, the organization of global workshops and institutions that nurture aspiring delegates. Of the Core Team, I have been given the honor and privilege to personally meet a member of the Best Delegate Core Team, Mr. Aaron Kalafarski, the current Director of Sales.

Mr. Aaron Kalafarski at Chantilly High School working directly with students on how they can personally improve and grow as delegates.

Mr. Aaron Kalafarski found out about Model UN during his freshman year of high school through his AP Human Geography teacher, who also happened to be the Sponsor of the Model UN program offered at his school. Although he did not attend a conference until the Spring of his sophomore year, he immediately fell in love with the social dynamics of Model UN and soon founded the competitive team at his high school. Over the next few years he ended up attending conferences on both a local and national level, and although he had a high rate of awards, the selfless nature that defines him as an individual, aspired for more. This led to his desire to give back to the Model UN Community and shortly thereafter participation at the MUN Institute, a unique summer program, presented by Best Delegate, for delegates with a desire and passion for learning more about Model UN, as a “diplomacy fellow” assisting the participating students. Since then, Mr. Kalafarski has assisted at every MUN Institute, including that following his college graduation, and has worked with several schools in the DMV area on the East Coast to provide opportunities for delegates. This can be apparent through his organization of a private program for 25 students from the United Arab Emirates. Through these experiences, Mr. Kalafarski has acquired numerous strategies and tips for both novice and experienced delegates however still strongly believes that understanding one thing is the key to becoming the best delegate you were meant to be.

According to Mr. Kalafarski, “Model UN is a process.” There is no rushing it. Model UN can be referred to as a “Social Sport,” and like all other sports there is “a rind, the learning process,” that everyone must get through in order to “develop that foundational understanding.” During an interview conducted on Mr. Kalafarski, he states that “the most harmful thing that a delegate can do is to automatically want to be the Best Delegate in the committee.” There is no other activity like Model UN, and therefore it takes time in order to develop those “social skills” and the “intellectual prowess to navigate through committees.” Even for the most experienced of delegates, you should always aspire to refine your skills, to focus on your weaknesses so that they do not hinder you while in committee, and to elevate your strengths to the best that they can be.

Fundamentals are what define a delegate. “To develop into a good delegate,” whether your interested in winning awards, or just even having your resolution passed, “building a solid foundation” should be the priority of every aspiring delegate. One’s ability to research, negotiate, write, speak, and a multitude of different elements that make Model UN, are only built upon years and years of practice. It is the foundational understanding of each of these elements that shape a delegate’s ability, and although “there are some students that come into Model UN with a natural innate ability for” some of these elements, the understanding and application of all the listed fundamentals, and more, is required before aspiring to become the delegate of your fullest potential. Remember, “it is not a race to try and be the Best Delegate after your first or second conference.” Although that may seem like the intent, given the competitive nature of those in the Model UN Circuit, Model UN is supposed to “help us see the world from the perspectives of different countries, on some of the world’s most pressing issues. It is supposed to expand the way we think about the world, and the way we think about ourselves.”

In obtaining the experience and spending the efforts to build upon your foundation of fundamentals, refining your new understanding will further yourself as a delegate. Self evaluation can be a turning point in a delegate’s Model UN career, as it emphasizes reflection, an integral aspect of success. In addition to recognizing the strengths and weaknesses within yourself, focusing further on social dynamics will play a factor in both a Model UN committee and in the real world. In reality, a Model UN career is simply a “series of conferences and relationships,” however physiologically, it is a “social game” that should be used as an opportunity to develop relationships and creating lasting friendships, rather than unleashing the competitive nature that is fueled by recognition and awards. Understanding this “social etiquette and the social rules of society” will be among the final stages of becoming a strong delegate, however it is always, always, important to be hungry to learn more and to never stop asking questions.

The adrenaline junkies and adventure seekers of the Model UN community more than often have a great love for crisis committees. This isn’t surprising given that the fast-paced action and the idea of facing immediate consequences for decisions made is anything but boring. However, while the thrill of not knowing what is to come next and what the rest of the room is planning may be exciting, versatility and creativity alone aren’t enough – the gavel almost always goes to the delegate who is most researched, prepared, and is the center of the narrative of the crises.

Preparing for crisis committees may seem to be a tricky ordeal given the fact that most decisions made and actions taken to happen in a fast-paced environment where the emphasis lies on the quick thinking and decision making skills of the delegates. But crisis committees – much like any other committee in Model UN – require extensive research and preparation to achieved the desired outcome.

This article aims to provide insight into the research and preparation behind the fast-paced action of a crisis committee to showcase steps that are essential for winning the coveted crisis committee gavel. Different delegates use research differently and, thus, this article is not definitive or exhaustive. However, these steps have been emphasized by chairs and directors worldwide to be the essentials for research and preparation for crisis committees.

Step 1. Researching the background and timeline of the committee

The first step of preparation for crisis committees is the same as that of any other Model UN committee: researching and understanding the background of the committee, agenda, and the timeline of events. The need for background research differs with different types of crisis committees, as some may require detailed research into the timeline of events and the mandate of the committee, while others may require merely an understanding of the work of the committee and its members.

Researching and understanding the background, powers, mandate, and scope of the committee is essential to move forward and make appropriate crisis notes/decisions that are essential for a gavel-worthy performance in crisis committees. Timeline research is also indispensable if the committee has a historical context or is set in a different timeline while research of the maps and area relating to the agenda is necessary for strategic and war crisis committees. Some crisis committees may even require extensive research on lores and the quantitative resources of the committee, but, irrespective of the type of research, background research is the most basic and essential preparation step.

Preparing notes about the background and timeline of the committee which include quantitative knowledge of the resources and tools in the possession of the committee helps to gain an advantage while both preparing crisis notes and in understanding the implications of the crisis updates on the committee.

Step 2. Researching the both portfolio power and personal power of your position

Portfolio powers and personal powers are the two major resources of any delegate in a crisis committee, and research on the same is indispensable in preparation for a crisis committee. More information on portfolio powers, personal powers, and their role in crisis committees can be found here.

Portfolio and personal powers do not only dictate the powers and resources at the hand of the delegate but also help understand the intentions and motives of the position in the committee. Closer research of the portfolio powers showcase the most appropriate steps and decisions that can and should be used to contribute most to the narrative and, in turn, to become a central character of the committee. Meanwhile, closer research of the personal powers showcase the alternative motives and resources available to the position, that the rest of the committee may be unaware of.

Preparing notes on the position, power, and resources of the position, complemented with notes on the alternative motives, connections and powers of the position is essential to ensure that crisis notes and actions taken are detailed, realistic, and impactful.

Step 3: Preparing the arc and narrative that will lead to the most beneficial end goal

Preparing an arc or narrative that will allow for the most beneficial end goal is a preparation measure whose usage varies according to the type of crisis committee. However, preparing a narrative and strategizing with regards to the plan of action in the committee is a necessary step to achieve success and the gavel in a crisis committee.

Mind map for the preparation an arc and narrative

Preparing a plan of action and understanding the desired goal to achieve by the end of the committee helps to understand the most beneficial way to tackle the committee’s agenda and showcases the personal agenda of the position in the committee. While the prepared arc and narrative seldom hold following crisis updates and crisis notes, preparing them helps with understanding the agenda with respect to the motives and goals of the allocated character. It can also help to brainstorm the smaller steps, or individual crisis notes, that will lead to larger goals.

Example Plan of Action

Step 4: Preparing for the alliances and the first crisis notes necessary to form them

Crisis committees, like any other Model UN committee, require teamwork with allies and partners, and strategically suited joint decisions and crisis notes. Understanding both the committee and the motives of others’ positions allows for an understanding of the alliances and partnerships necessary for a good performance in the committee. Knowing the other members of the committee and their agendas helps you understand the alliances that will allow for your position to achieve the most beneficial end goal.

Preparing which alliances you’ll see at the start of the committee is a time-saver, and can help you propel into tackling the crisis directly, without wasting time on determining how to get others to join you.

Concluding thoughts

Preparation and research are the greatest assets and tools of a Model UN delegate, irrespective of committees. The preparation steps put forth in this article aim to fully prepare delegates for the challenges and tasks that they will face as crisis delegates, help them become central characters in their respective crises, and even gavel in crisis committees. While victory is important and is the goal of most if not all Model UN delegates, the thrills of the committee and skills delegates develop with every crisis update are the true and lasting positive outcomes of the committee. Hence, when preparing, remember to have fun in committee and give it your all – because without being willing to learn and adapt, preparation is futile.

Best Delegate Model UN Conference (BDMUNC) is the educational Model UN experience you’ve been waiting for.

BDMUNC is a Model UN Conference for high school (13-18 year old) and middle school (11-14 year old) students. BDMUNC 2019 will be held at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda in the Washington DC area from March 14-17, 2019.

You’ve asked, and we’ve delivered! BDMUNC was created through combining the Faculty Advisor’s feedback about conferences with Best Delegate’s expertise to bring you a conference that aims to provide a world-class learning experience for both delegates and advisors.

Here are some of the things that make BDMUNC different:

BDMUNC brings out the best in every Delegate: Every delegate will be expected to speak during the conference and will receive personalized feedback so that they can improve their leadership skills. Best Delegate-trained staff will chair and provide feedback for every committee. Learn more about our Learning Objectives.

BDMUNC makes Model UN preparation easy for Advisors and Delegates: Advisors will receive a training guide and professional development, and delegates will receive a preparation guide and training workshops to set them up for success. Learn more about our Advisor Experience and Delegate Training.

BDMUNC brings World-Class Experience to this conference: We have partnered with international organizations to provide expertise on the background guides and speakers for every topic. And Best Delegate itself has organized conferences at the UN Headquarters and has trained thousands of students and teachers worldwide. Learn more about Best Delegate.

Priority Registration Deadline is December 15th and the Regular Registration Deadline is January 15th. Register Today

For more information, visit our website: bdmunc.com

Introduction

For years, the fall rankings have been a staple of the North American collegiate circuit, whether it be for inspiration or for motivation. We consistently push for improvement in making our rankings as accurate, detailed, and inclusive as possible. The schools that rank the highest on the list show a consistency in their programming to prepare their delegates to succeed in committees. We hope to showcase the effort and hard work that has been shown repeatedly by club members to bolster the spirit of Model United Nations.  

With that said, Best Delegate recognizes that the true value of Model UN goes far beyond awards, and that these rankings are only one of many different ways to recognize teams for the hard work they have put in. We value learning, diplomacy, creativity, and the creation of global citizens as far more vital aspects of the activity. In order to highlight these and other definitions of success in MUN, we highly encourage readers and MUN enthusiasts to send us accounts of their MUN clubs and conferences as well. If you would like your team to be featured on the Best Delegate Facebook page, feel free to send an email to genevieve.pool@nullbestdelegate.com.

We also recognize that not every conference or school chooses to focus on the competitive aspect of Model UN. These rankings only capture what we call the “World Division” of student-led teams that attend conferences organized by university clubs, and most of these conferences are competitive in nature and significantly feature crisis committees. It does not capture the successes of the “National Division” of advisor-led programs that attend conferences organized by nonprofit organizations, which are more academic in nature and primarily focus on traditional UN committees.

Methodology and Disclaimers

The Weighted Score Methodology is the same as in previous years. The article above also provides insight into the purpose and philosophy behind the rankings. However, we made two changes to the weightings this year. 

First, changes were made to the weightings for each type of award in order to reward delegates for their hard work and to acknowledge that oftentimes, the difference between award winners is too close to value one award significantly higher than the other. Best Delegates are now worth 5 points, Outstanding Delegate is worth 4, Honorable Mention is worth 3, and Verbal Commendation is worth 2. This 5-4-3-2 weighting also reflects a more common practice now on the circuit, which has trended away from the 3-2-1-0.5 weighting that we previously used. Additionally, double delegations as two individual awards, to equally value all delegates. 

Second, changes were made to the weightings of each conference so that there is relatively less disparity in value between the largest and smallest conferences while still taking into account a variety of factors for competitiveness: number of delegates in attendance, number of teams who won awards, number of Top 25 teams in attendance, and percent of awards won by each team. The change would end up recognizing teams that won delegation awards or many individual awards at one of the smaller conferences over a team that won a few awards at one of the largest conferences, all else in their resume being equal. Of course, conferences are re-weighted every year anyway as the inputs to each factor change. 

Fall conferences were weighted in the following order, although placement in the same tier does not indicate the exact same weight:

1. UPMUNC (University of Pennsylvania)
2. NCSC (Georgetown University)
3. CMUNNY (Columbia University) & BarMUN (Boston University)
4. SCSY (Yale University), TrojanMUN (University Southern California), SBIMUN (UC Santa Barbara), UNCMUNC (University of North Carolina), CIAC (Cornell University), and QMUNi (Queen’s University)
5. DisCON (Duke University)

A few notes to bear in mind:

1. It is important to note that we use aggregate weighted scoring while many conferences use a ratio in their scoring methodology. Please keep in mind these scoring differences as you read the following narratives- our rankings of for example “2nd Place” at a conference is in terms of total weighted awards, and may not match with the Outstanding Large Delegation at that conference.
2. Schools that host conferences in the fall are at a slight disadvantage since they cannot compete at their own conference. However, most of the top schools will host a conference at some point, thus balancing out the scoring opportunities for the end of year rankings.
3. We can only use data that has been submitted to us by conferences. 305MUN was not included as we did not receive data. Collegiate conferences who wish to have their awards data included in the spring rankings should contact Genevieve Pool at genevieve.pool@nullbestdelegate.com and Elaine Miao at elaine.miao@nullbestdelegate.com.
4. All calculations are formulaic and done by the Best Delegate Co-Founder, Kevin Felix Chan, and then manually triple-checked by three members of the Best Delegate team to ensure data integrity and unbiased results. 

Credits

Rankings are a huge effort on the part of many members of the Best Delegate team. Editor-in-Chief Elaine Miao’s leadership on both this and the media team have been invaluable. This list would not have been made possible if not for the tireless hours Editor of Best Delegate Content Genevieve Pool put in. Additional thanks go to Abhiram Reddy, our College Media Associate, and Core Team members Kevin Felix Chan, Conna Walsh, and Erik Leiden for their guidance, effort, and hard work.

On behalf of the Best Delegate family, we would like to congratulate the top 75 teams of the Fall season.

#1 The University of Chicago

For the second year in a row, the University of Chicago put on a dominant performance in the fall semester to claim the #1 spot in the ranking. The team was the best on the circuit by any measure: it won by far the most individual awards, the most gavels, and the most large delegation awards. Its accolades include winning the Best Large Delegation at UPMUNC, the most competitive conference of the semester. It also won the Best Large Delegation award at BarMUN, and the Outstanding Large Delegation award at CMUNNY (though it came in first in terms of weighted score). Lastly, the team placed third at NCSC, where it contended for a large delegation award. Despite its cumulative dominance this semester, the team is not undefeated like in some previous fall semesters, so it will have to put in work to defend its #1 end-of-year rank. UChicago will host ChoMUN in April. 

While maintaining a competitive spirit, the UChicago team also tries to emphasize the experience of Model UN by giving as many people as possible a chance to travel. President RJ Ruano had this to say about their fall quarter team: “I love this team and I’m incredibly proud of their performance this season. To embrace the passion for MUN at UChicago, we took more individual delegates to fall conferences this year than we ever have before. I’d like to recognize all of the new members of our team for stepping into this community and doing a stellar job, in addition to the returning members for taking on new challenges while helping foster an environment in which everyone can grow. This team is a family and I look forward to more great times with them this winter!”

#2 Florida International University

The powerhouse FIU team put in one of its best performances ever to reclaim their title as the #2 ranked team on the circuit, an accomplishment they’ve only had one other time in the fall semester. FIU’s largest success of the semester was their performance at NCSC, where they won the Best Large Delegation award for the first time there over large delegation rivals UChicago, UPenn, and Harvard. Another notable victory was at BarMUN, where they won the Outstanding Large Delegation award behind only UChicago. Lastly, FIU finished in the top 5 at UPMUNC and in the top 10 at CMUNNY. Overall, FIU received the second most individual awards on the circuit while only traveling to the four highest weighted conferences, and tied for the fourth most gavels on the circuit. The team plans to launch a FIUMUN collegiate conference this year. 

Florida International University not only has student leaders, but staff mentors as well. Michelle Rosario, former Head Delegate and current Program Director, has seen her team grow and has some encouraging words to share: “FIU is really proud of what our team was able to accomplish this semester. Last spring, we said goodbye to a lot of amazing seniors, however, we were refreshed with incredible incoming lower class-men that shocked up with their natural talents. In addition, our leadership team worked tirelessly to ensure the best for the team pre-conference and post. Our unity and endless support for one another really defines our team culture.”

#3 Georgetown University

Georgetown edged out UPenn for the third spot on the fall ranking by the equivalent of one award. The team’s strategy was to equally balance quantity and quality throughout the four conferences they traveled to, and they received the fourth most gavels and fourth most individual awards overall. The team placed second or third at every conference it attended. Its best performance was perhaps placing second in terms of weighted score at UPMUNC, where it missed out on a large delegation award by ratio. The team also placed third at CMUNNY and at BarMUN. Finally, the team found success on its first visit to UNCMUNC, winning the Best Small Delegation there. Georgetown also hosted a larger NCSC this year, the second highest weighted conference of the semester. 

The Georgetown team worked extremely hard on their travel team, but they also made sure to support each other internally. Conference Coordinator Zac Schroepfer discusses his and his peer leaders’ efforts below: “I could not be prouder of team GU MUN after a semester of hard work and dedication. This year, we took time to re-focus on some of our main priorities, most notably emphasizing the importance of fostering inclusiveness as well as competitiveness as a team. We have implemented recruiting programs, kick-started inclusion in MUN workshops, and re-vamped our training program to not only bring in new delegates, but also to enable them to truly thrive as delegates of team GU MUN. Our team has spent this time also becoming a family both on-campus, and off, and I, personally, cannot wait to see all of the amazing experiences our delegates will have in the Spring semester!” 

#4 The University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania kept its place within the top 5 of the ranking with a formidable performance this fall. The team notably raked in the second most gavels on the circuit and the third most individual awards. Its biggest win came at SCSY, where it dominated the conference by winning almost half the gavels possible en route to a Best Large Delegation award. The team also picked up a Best Large Delegation award at CMUNNY. It also put in a top 5 performance at NCSC and a top 10 performance at BarMUN. Finally, Penn IAA hosted UPMUNC, the highest weighted conference in the fall. Its two Best Large victories, coupled with the fact that it already hosted its conference in the fall, signal that it will be a serious challenger to UChicago, FIU, and Georgetown for the top ranking when the spring semester starts. 

Head Delegate Noah Levine reflects on his observations on the UPenn Model UN team’s growth throughout the past few months: “Perhaps “family” would be the best word to describe our team. Everyone is always there to support each other, whether it be during or after committee sessions. We also had an incredibly successful recruitment season, and an amazing group of new freshmen and sophomores as a result of that. From CMUNNY to BarMUN to NCSC to SCSY, our team takes MUN to the next level with our “work hard, play harder” mentality. We look forward to a great spring semester and amazing experiences at McMUN, HNMUN, VICS, NYUMUNC and ChoMUN!”

#5 Harvard University

Harvard placed third or fourth at every conference it attended this fall semester, to enable it to secure its traditional place within the top 5 of the ranking. With each conference it attended, Harvard’s team increased its committee clout a little more. Starting off slow by narrowly missing a delegation award due to ratio at CMUNNY, the team continued on to SCSY, NCSC, and UPMUNC, winning delegation awards at each. Harvard picked up a Best Small Delegation award at SCSY, and then upgraded its team size to win an Outstanding Large Delegation award at NCSC. Harvard’s performance culminated at its Outstanding Large Delegation award at the highly competitive UPMUNC. Overall, the team won the third most gavels and tied for the fifth most individual awards on the circuit. 

While we anticipate Boston’s snowstorms to only get worse, Harvard’s delegates can certainly stay thawed with this heartwarming message from head delegates Safa Salem and Jenna Wong: “We could not be prouder of ICMUN for its performance this past semester. We’ve seen our team members really flourish through some newfound partnerships and we hope to continue to expand on that moving forward. Our killer freshman class has rolled in like thunder, and a storm is definitely brewing for the spring semester. We’re super excited to continue building our family on campus and away at conferences, and we can’t wait to see what the spring has in store for us!”

#6 American University

American University is now on the cusp of the top 5, seizing its highest fall ranking ever this semester after having notched its highest end-of-year ranking ever last year. It also upended the historical order of DC teams, topping GW for the first time. The team’s performance really took off after a top 10 finish at CMUNNY. American won the Best Small Delegation award at BarMUN, where it beat teams like GW, UPenn, and West Point. It also received the Outstanding Small Delegation award at UPMUNC, where it put in a top 5 performance that rivaled some of the best large delegations. And most notably in their hometown, American finished #1 in weighted score at NCSC — better than UChicago, FIU, UPenn, or Harvard — and likely missed out on a delegation award only because of ratio. Overall, it tied Harvard for the fifth most individual awards on the circuit. Despite losing a large senior class last year, this is American’s highest ever ranking, proving that they have created the foundation to be a strong team for years to come.

Head Delegate Zach Bontempo is especially proud of their new class and their potential:. “Over the course of the Fall semester, American University welcomed in an incredibly talented and driven freshman class, which helped to propel our team to one of its best Fall performances in club history. New members, coupled with a more intense training regimen saw improvements at every conference for our team, and led us to two delegation awards at BarMUN and UPMUNC respectively. We are incredibly proud of our new members and veterans alike, and on the heels of this success we are all greatly looking forward to a fun and competitive Spring semester.”

#7 The United States Military Academy at West Point

While balancing an incredibly rigorous academic experience, West Point managed to travel to five conferences this Fall, the most of any team in top 10. Traditionally one of the best small delegations on the circuit, West Point again won or contended for a small delegation award and placed within the top 10 at every conference it attended. The highlights for the team include winning the Best Small Delegation award at CMUNNY and the Outstanding Small Delegation award at BarMUN. The team only missed out on delegation awards at NCSC and SCSY by ratio as it had a higher weighted score than at least one small delegation award winner, and it put in a solid performance at UPMUNC. 

Cadet-in-Charge John Govern reflected on the vital skills their team learned this semester: “It’s been remarkable seeing our team’s delegates develop, learn, and win this semester. Over the fall, West Point Model UN successfully integrated a new roster of different class years into a cohesive team. Attending several conferences and winning Best Small Delegation at CMUNNY, West Point Model UN is a family that I’ve had the privilege to lead thus far. The skills learned and experiences gained in Model UN are invaluable, and we hope to further bridge the civil-military divide at future conferences. I always appreciate the sacrifices our delegates make to attend conferences and their willingness to compete at the highest level. The entire West Point Model UN team looks forward to another semester on the circuit and to compete with our friends and colleagues.” Go Army!

#8 University of California, Los Angeles

UCLA barely edged out Claremont McKenna by the equivalent of one award to achieve their highest ever ranking and hold on to their “Best in the West” title. UCLA tied for the sixth most gavels on the circuit and also won the most individual awards among West Coast teams, showing both quality and quantity. Their ranking is partially attributed to a dominating performance at TrojanMUN, where they won the Best Large Delegation award. The team also secured the Best Small Delegation award at SBIMUN, and contended for a delegation award at CMUNNY by placing sixth overall. This ranking is notable as UCLA was the only top ten team to travel to only three conferences. They will host LAMUN in the spring. 

Travel team director Justin Schmerler had the following to say: “We are incredibly proud of the UCLA travel team’s achievements over the past few months. With best-ever performances at both CMUNNY and TrojanMUN, the team has gone above and beyond our expectations and we could not ask for a better group of delegates. Both our new and experienced delegates have displayed great enthusiasm and talent, and we can’t wait to begin competing in the second half of the year.”  

#9 Claremont McKenna College

Claremont McKenna had a similar level of performance compared to last fall, and finished ranked #9 in the fall for the second year in a row. CMC seemed to rely on a handful of strong performers this year, and therefore was tied for the sixth most gavels on the circuit and has an interesting 7:1 ratio in terms of number of gavels won to Outstanding Delegate awards won. Their performance has resulted in three delegation awards this fall, which is tied with UChicago and Harvard for the most on the circuit. The team won Best Large Delegation at SBIMUN, Best Small Delegation at TrojanMUN, and Best Small Delegation at NCSC. It also won awards at UPMUNC. Apart from its competitive drive, the team also maintained their spirit of building each other up rather than tearing others down, which likely contributed to awards won.

President Emma Houston had this to say about her team: “The fall semester for our team was a whirlwind: from admitting our largest class of new members ever, to having all of our juniors off-campus, as well as adding an additional conference to the fall schedule, we have seen a huge shift in the focus and competitiveness of our team. I am incredibly proud of what the team (especially the new members) have accomplished this semester, and could not be more excited to continue this success next semester with our whole team on campus and with a more rigorous spring conference schedule.”

#10 The George Washington University

George Washington has lofty goals to hit after breaking into the top 5 to end last year. The team started the fall semester strong to maintain a place in the top 10 of the rankings for the third year in a row. Its best performance came at the beginning of the semester, where it won the Outstanding Small Delegation award at CMUNNY. The team was consistent throughout the rest of the semester, taking home many awards at BarMUN, NCSC, and UPMUNC to stay within or very close to the top 10 at every conference it attended. This consistency to place within the top 10 at only the highest weighted conferences should pay off in the spring, when there are more competitive conferences on the schedule. 

Along with a strong Fall performance, the George Washington University also saw its most competitive recruitment season yet, with over 130 eager students vying for around 30 spots. Head Delegate Hari Asuri discusses his experience with his team below: “I’m very proud of all the hard work and effort that GWMUN put into the semester. Particularly, the new class of Colonial Cadets, members of GW’s entry training programming for Model UN, have shown great promise and have worked extremely hard. Additionally, strong returning member performance yielded in great results as well such as our delegation award at CMUNNY this year. As always, to my team, thank you so much for all your hard work! GWMUN is super excited for the second semester and looks forward to starting up the new year at McMUN in January.” 

#11 McGill University

McGill is riding on momentum from its best finish ever last year and has sustained their strong performance this fall. The team had two highlights. First, it won the Outstanding Large Delegation award at SCSY, where it finished behind only UPenn and ahead of Harvard and West Point. Second, it received the Outstanding Small Delegation award at NCSC, where it finished ahead of Best Small winner Claremont McKenna and also West Point in terms of weighted score. Lastly, it showed it could compete against the best with a top 15 showing at UPMUNC. McGill has been the highest ranked Canadian university since the inception of the rankings, but this fall is notable in that it has a record of two other peers in the top 25. Next semester, they will host McMUN, one of the largest and most looked forward to conferences of the year.

 #12 University of Southern California

After breaking into top 25 for the first time last fall, USC shot up the rankings with its best showing ever this semester. This is particularly noteworthy considering they hosted TrojanMUN this semester. Their best production was at SBIMUN, where they took home the Outstanding Large Delegation award but performed better than Claremont McKenna and UCLA in terms of weighted score. They also brought small teams to the East Coast and picked up awards at UPMUNC and CMUNNY. Despite an unfortunate, hours-long interrogation with the NYPD over misunderstood crisis notes, the USC has proved that they can get through any crisis, real or simulation, and still come out on top.  

#13 Indiana University

Indiana showed that its breakthrough into the top 25 last year was no fluke, and took the circuit by storm this Fall to continue their upward trajectory in the rankings in the six years since the program started. In their self-described best semester ever, they contended for delegation awards at both NCSC (placing sixth overall) and BarMUN (placing fourth overall). And to show the team could compete against the best, it placed within the top 15 at UPMUNC. IU is the highest ranked team that has not secured a delegation award yet. They are also now the highest ranked team from the Big Ten.

#14 Florida State University

Florida State consistently won awards at four conferences this fall, and seems to have a balanced team of many individuals winning awards at each conference (as opposed to relying on a few gavel winners). The team was able to take home the Best Large Delegation award at UNCMUNC by beating Tennessee by ratio. The team put in a top 10 finish at NCSC and likely contended for a delegation award there. And finally, the team won awards at BarMUN and UPMUNC to complete its fall schedule. 

#15 Emory University

Emory maintained a spot in the top 15 of the fall rankings despite reducing their fall travel itinerary by one conference. Emory seems to be a top-heavy team, with a number of gavels that rival most of the top 10 teams on the circuit. Emory’s best performance of the fall was dominating their fellow Southern teams at DISCon in route to a Best Large Delegation award there. The team also consistently won multiple awards at UPMUNC, BarMUN, and UNCMUNC. They will host MUNE in the spring.

#16 University of California, Berkeley

UC Berkeley is the highest ranked team to have not received a gavel this season, securing their spot instead by racking up many individual awards. The team seemed to change strategies this year and focused on winning more awards at fewer conferences. The majority of the team’s awards came from a stellar performance at TrojanMUN, where they won the Outstanding Large Delegation award. The team also put in top-15 performances at UPMUNC and CMUNNY. They will host UCBMUN in the spring. 

#17 Princeton University

Princeton has re-emerged as a top 25 team after a one-year dip in the rankings. Princeton is a team that has traditionally had a travel-heavy schedule, and this year has been no exception with the team winning awards at four conferences in the fall and a pair of delegation awards from Ivy League conferences. Their most impressive showing was at UPMUNC, where they won the Best Small Delegation award. Princeton also received the Outstanding Small Delegation award at SCSY. In addition, the team also won awards at NCSC and CMUNNY. Princeton will host the Princeton Diplomatic Invitational (PDI), the successor to PICSim, in the spring. 

#18 Columbia University

The peak of Columbia’s performance came right at the end of the fall semester, when it placed sixth overall at UPMUNC and contended with American and Princeton for a small delegation award there. Columbia also won a Best Small Delegation award at CIAC, and got on the scoreboard at NCSC. This is Columbia’s best fall performance in the past few years, and the team has an upward trajectory in the spring as it hosted CMUNNY during the fall.

#19 New York University

NYU put on a solid showing this fall with a team of predominantly new members as many of their talented seniors have graduated. They traveled to four top conferences, and gavels made up over a quarter of their total awards at them. Their stronger performances were at nearby CMUNNY and SCSY, where they placed in the top 10 at both. The team also won awards at UPMUNC and NCSC. In the Spring, they will host NYUMUNC, a staple of crisis committees on the college circuit.

#20 Queen’s University

Queen’s University breaks into the top 25 for the first time this year after having been in the top 50 for many years. Their ranking is buoyed by winning the Best Large Delegation at CIAC this fall, which was weighted relatively higher than in previous years in the re-weighting of the conferences. The team also won awards at UPMUNC. Notably, Queen’s University also hosted QMUNi this fall, which has increased in size to rival most of the East Coast conferences and therefore increased in weighting.

#21 College of William & Mary

William & Mary maintains its place in the top 25 with competitive traveling scheduling, where they tied with West Point for attending a fall-high five conferences. Although the team did not win any gavels, they steadily increased their individual awards won as the conferences got more competitive throughout the semester, taking home awards at CMUNNY, BarMUN, SCSY, NCSC, and UPMUNC. They managed to stay competitive even with an almost entirely first-year team at UPMUNC due to their high school conference, WMHSMUN, being hosted the same weekend. The team will host &MUN in the spring. 

#22 University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville breaks into the top 25 for the first time after a steady rise up the rankings in the past two years. Their ranking is primarily due to their success at UNCMUNC, where they won the Outstanding Large Delegation award but had a higher weighted score than Best Small winner Georgetown and Best Large winner Florida State. The team also won awards at NCSC. Tennessee is the highest ranked team from the SEC as neighboring Vanderbilt missed the top 25 this fall. 

#23 Michigan State University

Michigan State remains a staple on the top 25 and a fantastic representative of the Midwest. Their best showing of the year was at UPMUNC, where they placed eighth and clinched three gavels, tied for the fourth most of the conference. This was a significant improvement from their performances earlier in the semester at BarMUN and NCSC, and the Spartans proved they are a powerful competitor with the ability to contend for a delegation award against the best teams on the circuit. 

#24  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC Chapel Hill makes its first re-appearance in the rankings since finishing #25 during the 2015-2016 school year. UNC won awards at small and big conferences alike, with a consistent number of awards won at DISCon, BarMUN, and NCSC. Gavels made up a third of their awards, showing that the team has a few top delegates. The team placed in the top 15 at NCSC and BarMUN, and contended for a delegation award at DISCon. They also hosted UNCMUNC, which grew significantly this year and was weighted relatively higher than in previous years. 

#25 Wilfred Laurier University

Wilfred Laurier helped set a record-high of three Canadian universities in the top 25 rankings. The team took home the Best Large Delegation award at QMUNi this fall, which was weighted relatively higher than in previous years in the re-weighting of the conferences. A majority of the awards that Wilfred Laurier won at QMUNi were gavels, showing that this team has strong delegates. They edged out Carleton University for the Best Large Delegation at QMUNi, and therefore were able to make it into the top 25 for the first time over the same team. 

Top 50 Outstanding Delegations (Alphabetical Order)

The five teams closest to breaking into the Top 25 were: Carleton University, Tufts University, Northeastern University, Cornell University, and Clark University, respectively.

Boston University
Carleton University
Clark University
College of the Canyons
Cornell University
Elon University
Northeastern University
Ohio State University
Pomona College
Royal Military College (RMC)
Ryerson University
Seton Hall University
Tufts University
United States Air Force Academy
University of California, Davis
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Connecticut
University of Florida
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Texas, Austin
University of Toronto
University of Virginia
Vanderbilt University
Yale University

Top 75 Honorable Mention Delegations (Alphabetical Order)

Bates College
Bowdoin College
Brown University
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University
Concordia University
George Mason University
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
Ithaca College
John Abbott College
Johns Hopkins University
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Miami University
Middlebury College
North Carolina State University
Northwestern University
Stanford University
Tulane University
University of Alabama
University of Cincinnati
University of Illinois
University of Maryland
University of New Mexico
University of Toronto Mississauga
Victor Valley College

***

Congratulations to all, and we look forward to highlighting your future achievements!

With registration currently open for the Summer 2019 Model United Nations Institute by Best Delegate, delegates across the world are curious about what opportunities these programs can hold. The MUN Institute welcomes over 800 students from across the globe. Within the Institute, delegates are able to learn a myriad of Model UN skills ranging from public speaking to caucusing. Different difficulty levels are offered for varying experience levels. Many of our alumni graduate to go to prestigious universities to continue their Model UN journey.

How would you like to spend your summer teaching and working with Model UN students from around the world?

This summer, you could have the chance to teach students participating in the Model United Nations Institute (MUNI), Best Delegate’s premier Model United Nations training program. MUNI offers a variety of programs for middle school and high school students ranging from training novice delegates to conference Secretaries-General.

To teach these programs and supervise the students, Best Delegate is recruiting for three positions:

1. The Diplomacy Fellowship is a paid seven or eight-week summer fellowship for top university students or graduates with significant Model UN achievements, leadership experience, and interest in educating the next generation of student leaders. Diplomacy Fellows will serve as the instructors, trainers, and mentors for students attending MUNI.
2. The English Exchange Model UN Mentor is a paid one or two-week summer fellowship for top university students or graduates with significant Model UN achievements and who also speak Mandarin Chinese fluently and have an interest in educating the next generation of student leaders while helping these student leaders develop their English skills. 
3. The Residential Counselor position is a paid seven or eight-week summer fellowship for top university students or graduates with significant experience in residential supervision, student safety, and recreational programming. Residential Counselors will ensure that each program is safe and fun for the students, and will run recreational programming during evenings and weekends.

The fellowship term for both Diplomacy Fellows and Residential Counselors is from June 16 – August 3 or August 10, 2019 depending on your choice for the final MUNI program location. Staff must be available during the entire fellowship term. All staff will start in Washington, DC being trained by Best Delegate’s staff. Following the conclusion of staff training, staff will travel as a team to teach and supervise programs throughout the summer.

All staff will receive a competitive stipend with housing provided and meals covered. Transportation between program locations will be provided. 

Applications are due February 1, 2019. Learn more about the positions and view the applications here!

This guest article was written by Ashton Mathias, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Secondary Schools’ United Nations Symposium (SSUNS) 2018 in collaboration with Mohammed Iqbal Omar, Media Associate for Best Delegate

From November 22nd to 25th, 2018, delegates from all over the world arrived in Montreal to celebrate the 26th Annual Secondary Schools’ United Nations Symposium (SSUNS). SSUNS is the largest high-school level conference in Canada and is staffed by over 500 students from McGill University making it one of the highest staff to delegate ratios in the Northern American Model United Nations circuit. Delegates from places as far as Trinidad & Tobago, the Bahamas, The United Kingdom, Cuba, and Uganda, were able to engage in 27 unique committees, including a French bilingual committee and a Francophone committee.

The conference was kicked off at the Opening Ceremony, which began first with a performance by the Medicine Bear Singers, followed by a speech from a representative of the official charity for SSUNS 2018: The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society. The ceremony continued with a Keynote speech by the respected Professor Kenneth Deer, the current Secretary of the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake, and a major contributor to the Working Group on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples since 1995.

Introduction of the Secretariat at the Opening Ceremony

With Opening Ceremonies concluded, the committee sessions had begun. The committee selection brought topics from a variety of world regions and time periods, from ancient China to 1990s Chile. This year’s committees included: CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), the Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement 1961, ICAO 1958 (held in the actual ICAO Headquarters), the Newfoundland National Assembly, Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, and the Cabinet of Gamal Abdel Nasser.

A number of SSUNS committees also went paperless this year, which (combined with other efforts made by the Secretariat & Coordinators) earned the conference a Gold Sustainability certification from the McGill Office of Sustainability.

Delegates in committee debating a draft resolution

The SSUNS experience didn’t end with the committees- a wide variety of activities were held outside of committee sessions. These included: the GA Speaker MP David Lametti, the annual Scavenger Hunt, the SSUNS Walkway, the Friday-night Delegate Networking Event, MUN Workshops, classic Discover Montreal tours, the Faculty Advisor Cocktail, and finally, the Saturday-night Delegate Gala, held in the Grand Ballroom of Le Centre Sheraton Hotel.

The Saturday Night Delegate Gala Event

After an intense weekend of debating resolutions and adapting to the ever-changing crises, the delegates sat anxiously during Closing Ceremonies as daises handed out the three standard gavels and the Honourable Mention. In keeping with SSUNS’ tradition, daises also handed out Book Awards to delegates that were well-versed in the topics of the committee, and who embodied the spirit of Model United Nations.

Delegates receiving their awards at the Closing Ceremony

All in all, SSUNS 2018 was an incredible success and has seen tremendous growth from its humble beginnings a quarter-century ago. The Secretariat to end the conference awarded the delegation awards to the following schools:

Best Small Delegation: Sir Winston Churchill HS

Outstanding Small Delegation: Collegial international Sainte-Anne

Honourable Small Delegation: Eton College

Best Large Delegation: Upper Canada College

Outstanding Large Delegation: Marianopolis College

Honourable Large Delegation: Western Canada HS

The dynamic nature of crisis committees can be an obstacle to delegates, due to the significant break from standard practices seen in General Assemblies. Without a solid grasp on the concept of a crisis committee, new delegates are prone to make errors and are consequently at a disadvantage to crisis veterans. To best undermine this, delegates should avoid the following three pitfalls:

1.     Going rogue for no reason

As often advertised, crisis committees give you the opportunity to work against the committee and wreak havoc on your fellow delegates. The image of appearing loyal in front of other delegates while playing an entirely different game through your crisis notes is an intriguing one, but newcomers often make the mistake of thinking that it is the only path to crisis. These delegates try to work against the committee without considering whether or not their course of action is accurate to the individuals they represent. This frequently translates to poorly-made crisis arcs that end in nuclear war, revolution, or some form of regicide that only serves to further you from awards and inconvenience the backroom.

A delegate whose crisis arc is solely rooted in the end goal of taking over the committee can become a thorn in the side of a backroom trying to create a narrative from cooperative crisis notes. Chairs and backrooms invest a lot of time into the positions that make up their committee, and will recognize when a treacherous crisis arc is inaccurate given the motives of the delegate’s position. When a delegate begins to go rogue out of the blue, not only does it demonstrate poor research on their part, but also a preoccupation with FunMUN-esque maneuvers in place of intelligent strategy.

However, this is not to say that delegates can never advance their personal agendas through shady crisis notes. The difference here is that they accurately portray the extent a position would act in an underhanded manner, and may still forward the goals of a committee, albeit not the exact goals being pursued in room. If executed well, these types of notes can impress backrooms and result in their own crisis updates, improving your standing in the committee. Finding the line between warranted and unwarranted crisis arcs requires a lot of research into political goals of the individuals you represent, but it will ultimately pay off in improving your in-committee performance.

2.    Writing too much for your crisis notes

Crisis notes are arguably the most unique mechanism in crisis committees, as they allow delegates to directly alter the course of their simulations. As such, delegates are right to approach the content of their crisis notes carefully. Every word matters, as the backroom receiving your crisis notes will actively search for holes in them to undermine your crisis arc, especially when your commands are shady. While some delegates take this to mean that crisis notes have to be pages long, this mindset can only worsen the time crunch delegates face in a crisis committee. 

Whenever delegates write crisis notes in the form of paragraph-long letters, they run the risk of creating more holes in their crisis arc than they were trying to patch up. This is because lengthy crisis notes are almost always full of unnecessary fluff that backroom can use to hinder crisis arcs. Even if we assume that backroom will let the note by, the time took to write it would alone hurt delegates’ performance. Since crisis committees force delegates to address a never-ending stream of crisis updates, those extra minutes it takes to write a crisis note can become a significant setback. Furthermore, crisis notes meant to address a recent update can be rendered irrelevant if delegates spend too much time on them.

The best crisis notes are those that get straight to the point with action orders. These are also the notes that staff don’t dread receiving, and can easily comprehend – they’ll appreciate this! Bulleted points that provide sufficient information will allow delegates to advance their crisis arc and focus on other aspects of the committee. With all this said, detail can be fantastic – but if you’re the type of delegate to write several pages at a time, add a summary at the end. Fundamentally, the best advice out there would be to KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). 

3.    Underestimating the directive

Rather than culminating in a multi-page resolution like General Assemblies, crisis committees collectively respond to crisis updates and advance their interests through directives. These documents, although shorter in length, are integral to the flow of crisis committees as they represent an action order from the committee. Despite its importance, delegates new to crisis can be apathetic to the directive-writing process in favor of crisis notes. While there is less of an opportunity to advance crisis arcs because of the of the public nature of directives, they allow delegates to show their chairs that they can effectively balance in-committee and out-committee action. This balance is vital for those interested in awards, as it allows them to stand out in the midst of delegates either focusing too much on crisis notes or too much on speeches and directives. Additionally, it’s especially impressive when a delegate can tie their personal notes into a directive – without anyone in room knowing.

If you are still learning the basics of crisis committees, consider checking out the Best Delegate series on crisis!