The University of Pennsylvania Model United Nations Conference occurred over the long weekend of October 31 – November 3. Led by Secretary General Beau Staso in downtown Philadelphia at the Philadelphia 201 hotel. According to the UPMUNC website, the conference was staffed by over 300 UPenn students led by 16 secretariat members to ensure a successful weekend of MUN. This year’s opening speaker was the former United States Ambassador to Brunei, Craig Allen.
Committee Overview
This year’s UPMUNC was massive, boasting 20 committees. Broken down into four GAs, four Economic and Social Councils, and 12 crisis committees, including an Ad Hoc.
- GAs
- Disarmament and International Security (DISEC)
- Economic and Financial (EcoFin)
- Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural
- Special Political and Decolonization (SPECPOL)
- Economic and Social Councils
- Arab League 2011
- World Bank
- The Great Sejm
- CELAC
- Crisis
- Wilson’s Second Administration
- Ad Hoc
- Art of the Deal
- Sundiata and the Twelve Doors of Mali
- Apollo Board of Directors
- JCC: Taiping Rebellion – the Qing Dynasty (1855)
- JCC: Taiping Rebellion – The Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace (1855)
- Series of Unfortunate Events
- Marvel Board of Directors
- Colonizing Mars 2041
- Forty Elephants
- UN Security Council (Present Day)
In our opinion, this is a great spread of committee offerings with options for every type of delegate and their committee type preferences–from future to historical options as well as GA to crisis.
Committee Comments
As it should always be said, the committee comments section should serve as a balanced critique of the conference. MUN01 recognizes the hardwork and dedication that all Secretariat members put into the weekend. However, MUN01 also believes that delegates should be able to receive honest opinions and conferences gain feedback to grow and improve every year!
Committee Praises
One delegate stated that the Great Sejm committee was “probably the most creative GA” that they had been to this fall. Overall, delegates thought the chairs were great, but maybe “a little too loose on parli pro.”
Committee Critiques
Some delegates complained that committees did not receive enough crisis updates. For example, the Wilson committee received “only 1 crisis update on Friday, only 2 on Saturday.” A non-committee complaint was made about the hotel and the water not working, loud construction occurring, and slow wifi.
Awards
On Sunday, as it always does, the conference came to a close with the announcement of awards!
Best Large Delegation – University of Chicago
Outstanding Large Delegation – American University
Best Small Delegation – Claremont McKenna College
Outstanding Small – Yale University
To learn more about UPMUNC 53 click here to see their conference website. Thank you to the teams and delegates who participated in building this article with their comments and critiques. UPMUNC was extended an opportunity to contribute, but as of publishing has not responded. If information is provided, this article will be updated. Congrats to all who competed in or staffed the conference!
MUN01 