What Exactly is,
Model United Nations?
In the Model United Nations (MUN) at the high school level, students the world over are given the chance to step into the shoes of real delegates to debate and resolve conflicts, crises and epidemics that threaten the world daily. Before doing so delegates research their countries and topics to the best of their ability coming to each debate with a drive to accomplish their designated countries agenda while gaining consensus on issues of international and sometimes national interest. The topics are diverse and can range from wars, conflicts overseas and conflicts at home in the Security Council, or confronting diseases and epidemics in the Commission for Human Rights.
Almost as diverse as the topics are the many colorful people who participate in the activity. Because the activity is practiced worldwide and delegates are constantly meeting new people be it at local or international debates. Traveling adds even more flavor to the club. Aside from traveling to many local high schools, two debates are held at the national and international competition levels, where delegates worldwide converge in places such as the Hilton Hotel in Washington DC, the Hague in the Netherlands, and finally the actual United Nations Headquarter in New York City.
At North we are lucky enough to have a very generous alumni who also have participated in the club and fund most of our local competition fees, which would otherwise cost anywhere form ten to twenty dollars per delegate. Many Colleges and Universities nationwide respect North’s model UN, and in fact in the 1970’s North Catholic was respected as the leading power in Model UN thanks to the leadership of moderator Fr. John Hurley OSFS. Fr. Hurley still acts as moderator of North’s Model United Nations and in 2001, and 2003 he was awarded the national moderator of the year award for his expertise and leadership.
Speaking of awards, Model UN awards can be put on resumes and scholarly applications as academic awards for debating. A surprising fact that not many know is that by joining Model UN you really join two clubs. The Clubs you join are not only the North Catholic’s Model UN team but also become a member of the North Catholic Chapter of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, looking even better on applications. The World Affairs Council has been around since the mid-1940’s and many colleges look highly upon the two combined.
At North especially Model UN takes on a very easy-going role in its debates still debating with “zest” and winning many awards in the doing. The feeling at North is relaxed and always welcomes new members into the ranks, year-round. If a sport takes up most of a student’s time at one half of the year he may join later on and vice-versa. After nearly every meeting the club gathers in the Gym or on the football field for a game of football and/or basketball.
My name is Matthew Biedrzycki and I am the President of North’s MUN team 05’-06’ and since I joined in 2002 as a freshman, I have grown to love the club and have made many friends in and outside of it as a result. Sticking with it is the only way to go, times get hard and discouraging but you grow and pull through in the end. To conclude North Catholic’s Model UN Club is the place to be for students looking to learn, have fun, making lasting friends, and culture themselves in a very unique way.
