Worlds collide on Feb. 12 as SMU hosts its first Model United Nations conference, SMUMUN I. High school students from all over the Dallas area will compete for honors during an all day event that matches political skill with contextual wit. Each student will debate as a particular character in one  of many committees ranging from the historical to the fictitious. Imagine having the opportunity to rewrite the Constitution or decide who will survive the Evian Conference. Imagine responding to Iranian nuclear proliferation or reacting to the outbreak of a deadly infectious disease. Committees on the Mexican drug war, West African natural resource protection and even Harry Potter, all promise to challenge and delight for a whole day of rigorous debate.

Model UN was created with the goals of furthering understanding about the United Nations, educating participants about world issues and promoting peace and the United Nations through cooperation, conflict-resolution and diplomacy. Conferences like the World Model United Nations conference (World MUN) provide an opportunity for students to debate these issues in an environment that simulates the activities and constraints facing the United Nations system today.

SMUMUN I expands the traditional boundaries of Model UN conferences, providing innovative committees. Inventive crisis simulations hone the skills necessary for international diplomacy. Their dynamic character demands quick-thinking and resourceful collaboration. The historical scenarios give students the opportunity to alter the course of history.

SMU’s very own Model UN team and International Relations Council are organizing the event.  Schools like Georgetown, the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University host Model UN conferences that offer a national forum for elite high school students.  SMUMUN I marks the first step toward developing an intercollegiate conference at SMU.

For all involved, preparing substantively and logistically for the fast-approaching conference has been a whirlwind of activity. As committee chairs prepare their background guides and plan their crisis trees, each member of the Model UN team and the International Relations Council is learning the value of teamwork and good organizational skills. This new endeavor will offer SMU the prestige and national recognition awarded to an improving and up-and-coming Model UN organization, especially after the team has been lauded at national and international conferences. It is also worth mentioning that an influx of over 100 local high school students will experience SMU at its best and interact with over 30 current undergraduates.

For SMU, for the conference staff, and for the high school participants, SMUMUN I will be an unforgettable experience.

Sabeen Faheem is a senior political science major and the undersecretary for communication of the SMU Model United Nations team. For more information or opportunities to get involved with SMUMUN I, Sabeen can be reached at [email protected].