Berkeley Model United Nations

Several members of the Model United Nations club ventured down to California this past weekend, to participate in the Berkeley Model UN, one of the biggest on the West Coast (www.bmun.net). We arrived the day ahead to take in the sights and sounds of the United States, which included: watching a massive pro-education protest, riding streetcars through the streets of San Francisco, and being invited to a private viewing of the works of Fernando Botero, one of Colombia’s most revered modern artists.

Eventually, though, we did have to do some work; the committee sessions began on Friday afternoon, and before long, things were in full swing. While there were two dozen committees at BMUN, we participated in the Disarmament Committee, the International Court of Justice, the Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Committee, and the highly illustrious Security Council. Some of our delegates even walked away with awards: Arden G., Julia S. and Ian M. (our friend from Brentwood who accompanied us on the trip).

While we didn’t all win, no one came away from BMUN empty-handed—students and staff alike had a tremendous experience, and I, for one, had a weekend that I won’t soon forget. Here’s to BMUN 2010, and hopefully, to many happy returns.
 

– Lisa Jane D.