Over the weekend of October 18 and 19, King’s United Nations Association (KCLUNA) hosted the University of London Model United Nations (ULMUN) Conference’s 12th annual edition.
Model United Nations (MUN) are simulations of UN debate and discourse. Various ‘nations’ with differing stances aim to find consensus on a given topic. They provide participants, known as delegates, with an opportunity to hone their public speaking and improvisation skills.
This year, ULMUN counted 12 committees, ranging from beginner to pro level, to accommodate newcomers and veterans alike. KCLUNA registered 337 delegates from across the country at the conference. This figure represents the most recorded delegates in the event’s history.
Saturday (18.10)
ULMUN XII kicked off on Saturday morning with an opening ceremony held in the Bush House auditorium. The guest keynote speaker was Tim Hailes, former Alderman in the City of London and a fellow of King’s College London (KCL). He remarked that conferences like MUNs were “the forum that the world today needs, an example for the actual United Nations in New York”, going on to state that “cooperation is not a choice, it is a necessity”. After short remarks from KCLUNA vice-president Shreyansh Majumdar, the delegates were led to their respective committees by their chairs.
Roar was able to secure a short interview with Muhammad Keeka, Secretary-General of the MUN, following the ceremony. This was the society president’s third ULMUN. When asked what makes ULMUN so special, he stated that it was a “beginner conference which helps with public speaking, and a good place for new delegates to begin and build confidence”. It was Keeka who pronounced the conference open with a strike of his gavel.
Speeches and debating then began. One of this year’s new additions was the FIFA committee. This consisted of delegates from various football associations, rather than nations. The topic of debate was the development of women’s football.
Sessions were suspended at 18:30, followed by a social at The Vault.
Sunday (19.10)
Debate resumed at 9 am the next day. By this time, delegates were already drafting resolutions to address their problems. This involves members having to compromise their individual objectives so that their paper may be voted on favourably by the committee. However, delegates representing more radical or outspoken governments have to voice their concerns and remain loyal to their respective countries’ objectives.
At lunchtime, delegates went to eat together, getting to know one another outside of debate. KCLUNA training officer Oban Mackie commented: “I don’t recognise anyone here… that’s probably the best part about this conference. All of the delegates present are here to learn and have fun with each other, and it’s great seeing them throw themselves into it.”
Over the course of the day, the secretariat interrupted sessions to listen to delegates’ feedback on the weekend as a whole, without their chairs present. The evaluations were mostly positive. However, some delegates wanted a different committee allocation, whilst others complained about the logistics of obtaining tickets this year.
By the end of the afternoon, most resolutions had been successfully passed. Chairs and delegates signed each other’s placards with short messages before leaving their committees.
The closing ceremony took place in the early evening in a full Bush House auditorium. The chairs of each committee joined the stage one by one to reflect on their sessions. Individual awards were given to delegates for being ‘the most improved’, ‘the most diplomatic’, and ‘the best overall’.
#With the strike of the president’s gavel once more, the conference was pronounced closed. A fundraiser for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home was held in the courtyard of Bush House shortly following the ceremony. This involved donors throwing pies in the face of the person of their choice!
What’s next for MUN?
KCLUNA holds training sessions every Tuesday evening at 18:30 at the Lucas Lecture Theatre in the Strand Building.Upcoming conferences will be held at the SOAS, University of London (December 5-7) and Queen Mary University of London (January 25-26).
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