Model UN is a popular club on campus, with many students taking the opportunity to go on conference trips in locations across the northeast. On February 6th, Grier Model UN students traveled to Washington, D.C. for American University’s conference focusing on prominent current and historic issues in Eastern Europe. From women’s rights to the fuel crisis, delegates tackled global obstacles, often while portraying a country like Serbia or Poland.
This year, Grier sent 11 delegates to AmeriMUNC, with six seniors attending their last high school conference. Noa Stein, ‘26, came away from her Ad Hoc committee, where the crisis delegates must solve is kept a secret, with an honorable mention for her work restoring Greek museum artifacts to their proper owners.
Sophia Richards-Cordell ‘27 also attended the committee in IOC, or the International Olympic Committee. With the Winter Olympics looming, her committee discussed excessive nationalism and doping surrounding the winter games. “I spearheaded a paper about fixing horse welfare at the Olympics,” she said, reflecting on a highlight of her participation. She also enjoyed the female camaraderie created among Grier’s delegation: “We were just like a girl power [delegation],” she said. “It was such a good group.”
She also reflected on the conference’s strong and weak points. “The bussing could use some work,” Richards-Cordell said. However, she insisted that “[it was] probably the best conference that I’ve been to yet.”
Ms. Brandebura, one of the two club advisors, enjoyed the conference’s beginner-centered approach, which allowed new and veteran delegates to participate. “They encourage kids to speak,” she mentioned. “They give feedback to the delegates, and I think that’s very crucial. [The] feedback is original and unique from other conferences.”
One of the seniors who attended, Addy Franklin, ‘26, said, “It was very fun, and I got to spend time with people I don’t normally spend time with.” She also highlighted the importance of women attending these conferences and having their often marginalized voices heard in politics.
Franklin was in the UNCATD committee, which focused on online trade regulations in the modern age. “I was trying to take down Amazon,” she revealed, “but nobody followed me in that plan, so that didn’t happen.” The nature of debate requires participation from opposing sides of debate, so delegates have to work with friends and enemies alike to pass legislation in committee.
While Richards-Cordell and Franklin were in General Assembly committees, other Grier students were in crisis committees, like the six-way fuel crisis, where things became chaotic during the final hours of debate, with a church of coal property, called Coaland, seceding from Poland, before reuniting after negotiations. While opportunities for fun arise, Model UN’s focus is on peace and global cooperation first and foremost.
Club advisor, Mr. Packnick, also reflected on his experiences with AmeriMUNC. “It was really enjoyable,” he said. “I thought [the students] did a great job.” As members of the club know, one of Packnick’s favorite activities during conferences is to enter committee rooms. Though it often incites embarrassment, he perseveres. “I really do enjoy checking in and seeing what’s going on in committees and just seeing our students perform,” he said.
Both new and old members really stepped up at AmeriMUNC. “From an advisor standpoint, we had a large group of seniors, but we also had a group that this was their first big conference,” said Ms. Brandebura. “It was nice to see the mesh of the two: The newbies and the second-timers.”
Mr. Packnick also mentioned that the underclassmen are “the future of the club,” and it is crucial that they continue to perform well at these conferences. “These are opportunities that come up every year, it’s really encouraging to see how students really stepped up and engaged,” he said.
Many Model UN members were pulled into the club on a whim and became addicted to the rush of adrenaline from competing and debating. “Just do it. Just don’t even think about it; just join,” said Richards-Cordells to those interested in Model UN. She suggested students attend Grier’s conference on March 28th, saying that it is “the best starting place for learning about Model UN.”
Ms. Brandebura completed her interview with some words for her club students: “Congrats to the seniors on finishing their last conference outside of Grier, and I look forward to our newcomers and growing.”
