MFS Welcomes Students from Six Friends Schools for Fifth Quaker Model United Nations Conference

Students from six other Friends schools joined a large delegation of MFS students for the fifth Quaker Model United Nations Conference (QMUNC V) on Saturday, October 22.

QMUNC was created and organized by Anna Goula ’18 in 2017 as her Capstone Project. The conference is designed to help students of Quaker schools gain a better perspective on how Quakerism affects many modern world issues.

Andrew Mercantini ’23 and Shay O’Connor ’23 were Secretaries General of QMUNC V. Delegates from MFS, Delaware Valley Friends School, and Westtown School participated in person, while delegates from Germantown Friends, Moses Brown School (RI), Sidwell Friends School (DC), and Tandem Friends School (VA) participated virtually.

QMUNC Committees are formed in companion with the Quaker Testimonies or SPICES: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship. 

• The Simplicity Committee (Chair: Shriya Reddy ‘23; Co-Chair: Charlotte Nesevich ’25) dealt with Gotham City in crisis after Batman’s death. 
• The Peace Committee (Chair: Avani Verma ’24; Co-Chair: Mason Levens ’25) wrangled with the issue of Prohibition in Chicago from 1920-1933. 
• The Integrity Committee (Chair Haila Desai ’24; Co-Chair: Charlotte Nesevich ’25) faced a crisis involving Harry Potter, specifically The Order of the Phoenix vs. The Ministry of Magic, in the brief period of time between Sirius Black’s death and when Cornelius Fudge believes Voldemort is back. 
• The Community Committee (Chair: Kira Patel ’24; Co-Chair: Alicia Leung ’24) grappled with issues related to chemical weapons. 
• The Equality Committee (Chair: Julia Tourtellotte ’23; Co-Chair: Maya DeAndrea ’25) was faced with dealing with the Major League Baseball lockout. 
• The Stewardship Committee (Chair: Daniel Sorokin ’23; Co-Chair: Himanshu Sahore ’24) debated issues surrounding the Treaty of Tordesillas between Spain and Portugal in the late 15th Century.

Reflected MFS Model UN Advisor and History Teacher Clark Thomson: “Decisions were made for better and worse. A great deal was learned. Skills were developed and enhanced. And, a lot of fun was had. The fifth annual Quaker Model United Nations Conference was a rousing success!”