From December 3-6, the MFS Model UN delegation traveled to New Brunswick for RUMUN 2015 (Rutgers Model UN). Twenty-three Upper School students attended the conference, and novice attendee Anna Goula ’18 was recognized as Best Delegate from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) committee. This year’s theme was national sovereignty, and the MFS delegation was representing the country Iran.
“I loved the intellectual atmosphere of the conference, where people were working to find solutions to real-world problems,” said Anna. “I had no idea what to expect, but the officers (John Barton ’17, Alex Horn ’17, Jacob Schoifet ’16, and Rachael Whitley ’17) really helped guide us through everything. With Model UN, there is a different vocabulary and attitude that you have to learn, it’s a new world. So I really could not have achieved any success without them.”
In her UNICEF committee, Anna was the only MFS delegate and both her resolutions on child trafficking and child marriage passed.
“It was challenging to create a viable solution for child trafficking and child marriage that would work without compromising Iran’s national ideals,” said Anna. “Especially keeping in mind the theme of national sovereignty, the countries in the committee needed to work together to embody each culture and sustain each country’s traditions.”
History Department Chair and Model UN Advisor Clark Thomson was very pleased with the performance of the entire MFS team.
“When the United Nations Children’s Fund announced Anna Goula as best delegate, the MFS delegation erupted,” said Mr. Thomson. “In my nine years at Moorestown Friends School, I have never seen a novice recognized as best delegate. It is an amazing achievement. Overall, the entire team performed well in every committee, which was inspiring since we had eleven novices who were attending a conference for the first time.”
All members of the MFS delegation studied Iran, including its culture and policies, during class time to prepare a position paper for RUMUN and the other gatherings the class travels to throughout the year. Delegations are required to submit a position paper that details the viewpoints of the country on a wide variety of issues that will be debated at each conference. The MFS team will participate in two more Model UN conferences this academic year in January and February.