TCSHMUN Internal Conference – Suit Up!
Haaaaave you heard of Model United Nations? Model UN is an activity in which students come forth as representatives and delegates of various countries around the world, and gather together to discuss issues relevant to global scrutiny within bodies of the United Nations, in a simulation of actual United Nations procedures.
Model UN conferences teach students about international relations, current events, diplomacy, and the United Nations agenda, as well as a vast variety of soft skills including – but not limited to – negotiation, debate, and critical thinking; skills indispensable to anyone looking to move up not simply in the corporate ladder; but in life, love, and in many other sectors of life.
Another of many successful events organised by the Model United Nations club of Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas, TCSHMUN held its first Internal Conference on Saturday, March 19, 2011. A small-scale Model UN conference simulating the General Assembly of the United Nations, TCSHMUN’s first Internal Conference of the year was held in the Delta Theatre, on the second floor of college, in order to provide students with a forum to express their opinions on topics such as terrorism and the recent Japan crisis.
On Saturday morning, students of Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas could be seen traipsing up the escalators, dressed in suits, blazers, and various other forms of formal wear prior to the commencement of the event. While the formal dress worn by the delegates might have confused any laymen who were present at the second floor, making them believe that they had stumbled upon a grand ballroom entertaining an elite upper class as opposed to a college, the atmosphere was one that was lighthearted and friendly, as many of the delegates began socialising and getting to know each other, in collective anticipation of the triumphs and successes that would be their first Model United Nations Conference.
At 9.00 a.m. in the morning, the delegates entered the Delta Theatre, where the majority of debate would take place throughout the day. Some were proud, some nervous, but all were assured that the day would bring good experience. The session began with an opening speech by the President of TCSHMUN, who expressed his sentiments on Model United Nations as an activity, and spoke about the many benefits of participating in these conferences. He challenged all delegates present to move past their fears and insecurities about speaking during the conference, exhorting them to look at the conference as an opportunity, rather than a daunting experience, and to play an active role during the hours of debate to come.
An important part of Model UN conferences is lobbying, in which delegates come together to discuss a resolution, or a solution to the problem at hand to be debated on the floor. Many delegates were seen clustering around laptops, frantically offering their suggestions to ameliorate the problems presented during the conference, making friends and swapping contact details during the process.
Debate during the Internal Conference was of quality, especially considering that all who were present were participating in their first ever Model United Nations conference, and the hall was filled with many delegates stepping up to the podium for the first time in their lives in order to face the challenges presented by the conference, guided every step along the way by the conference chairs, Dhivya Sekar, the Vice President of TCSHMUN, and Amulya Vadrevu, of Alice Smith School.
Many delegates, though initially apprehensive about the whole experience, initially fumbled through their speeches, but eventually gained confidence and delivered above and beyond the level of what might have been expected of first-time delegates, delivering their arguments cohesively and coherently to the floor. Many interesting moments were had during the conference as well, particularly during speeches made by certain delegates who were unfamiliar with the “no personal pronoun rule” of MUN conferences, and the sheer political incorrectness of several delegates, who boldly discussed the merits of indulging in “adult activities” as a means of eliminating terrorism.
The session ended on a positive note, with a speech by Mr. Rahul Ramachandran, the club’s previous Teacher Advisor, who spoke with passion about the role of diplomacy and negotiations in fostering unity and cooperation, particularly within a group dynamic, thanking and congratulating the TCSHMUN committee for their efforts in carrying out the club’s first, of many major activities for the year.
BY VICTOR TAN
Model UN conferences teach students about international relations, current events, diplomacy, and the United Nations agenda, as well as a vast variety of soft skills including – but not limited to – negotiation, debate, and critical thinking; skills indispensable to anyone looking to move up not simply in the corporate ladder; but in life, love, and in many other sectors of life.
Another of many successful events organised by the Model United Nations club of Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas, TCSHMUN held its first Internal Conference on Saturday, March 19, 2011. A small-scale Model UN conference simulating the General Assembly of the United Nations, TCSHMUN’s first Internal Conference of the year was held in the Delta Theatre, on the second floor of college, in order to provide students with a forum to express their opinions on topics such as terrorism and the recent Japan crisis.
The delegate of Thailand, delivering a speech on the subject of the Japan crisis
On Saturday morning, students of Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas could be seen traipsing up the escalators, dressed in suits, blazers, and various other forms of formal wear prior to the commencement of the event. While the formal dress worn by the delegates might have confused any laymen who were present at the second floor, making them believe that they had stumbled upon a grand ballroom entertaining an elite upper class as opposed to a college, the atmosphere was one that was lighthearted and friendly, as many of the delegates began socialising and getting to know each other, in collective anticipation of the triumphs and successes that would be their first Model United Nations Conference.
At 9.00 a.m. in the morning, the delegates entered the Delta Theatre, where the majority of debate would take place throughout the day. Some were proud, some nervous, but all were assured that the day would bring good experience. The session began with an opening speech by the President of TCSHMUN, who expressed his sentiments on Model United Nations as an activity, and spoke about the many benefits of participating in these conferences. He challenged all delegates present to move past their fears and insecurities about speaking during the conference, exhorting them to look at the conference as an opportunity, rather than a daunting experience, and to play an active role during the hours of debate to come.
An important part of Model UN conferences is lobbying, in which delegates come together to discuss a resolution, or a solution to the problem at hand to be debated on the floor. Many delegates were seen clustering around laptops, frantically offering their suggestions to ameliorate the problems presented during the conference, making friends and swapping contact details during the process.
Delegates preparing their resolution for debate within the council
Debate during the Internal Conference was of quality, especially considering that all who were present were participating in their first ever Model United Nations conference, and the hall was filled with many delegates stepping up to the podium for the first time in their lives in order to face the challenges presented by the conference, guided every step along the way by the conference chairs, Dhivya Sekar, the Vice President of TCSHMUN, and Amulya Vadrevu, of Alice Smith School.
Many delegates, though initially apprehensive about the whole experience, initially fumbled through their speeches, but eventually gained confidence and delivered above and beyond the level of what might have been expected of first-time delegates, delivering their arguments cohesively and coherently to the floor. Many interesting moments were had during the conference as well, particularly during speeches made by certain delegates who were unfamiliar with the “no personal pronoun rule” of MUN conferences, and the sheer political incorrectness of several delegates, who boldly discussed the merits of indulging in “adult activities” as a means of eliminating terrorism.
The session ended on a positive note, with a speech by Mr. Rahul Ramachandran, the club’s previous Teacher Advisor, who spoke with passion about the role of diplomacy and negotiations in fostering unity and cooperation, particularly within a group dynamic, thanking and congratulating the TCSHMUN committee for their efforts in carrying out the club’s first, of many major activities for the year.
Should you have heard of MUN prior to this, should you be an aspiring MUNer, or should you already avidly participate in Model United Nations, wishing to participate in Model United Nations at Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas, you can do so by attending TCSHMUN’s meetings on Thursdays, 4.30 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. at Room 2.14, and by emailing TCSHMUN at tcshmun@gmail.com. For more information, do visit the TCSHMUN blog at: http://tcshmun.blogspot.com.
BY VICTOR TAN
