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May 2019 // Issue 4 UNMOD A MODEL UN MAGAZINE FOR MODEL UN PEOPLE From a Model UN conference in China to Cambridge PG. 4 The Ideal Faculty Advisor PG. 10 SEVEN The Long Island DELEGATE Model UN Circuit PG. 3 CATEGORIES THE SEVEN TYPES OF DELEGATES THAT YOU’LL MEET IN EVERY COMMITTEE UNLOCK THE WORLD WITH MODEL UN Join a Model UN community dedicated to improving themselves and supporting each other: 95% of our student win individual awards at conferences, our teams have won delegation awards at every conference, and 34% of our alumni attend an Ivy League+ school. ALL-AMERICAN MODEL UN All-American Model UN Programs “Being an All-American has • Harvard Model Congress– Madrid, Spain (March) changed my life. I have • NATO Security Summit— Warsaw, Poland (June) learned so much, not only • Diplomacy Academy– Boston, MA (July) about MUN, but also about • Harvard Model UN India– Hyderabad, India (August) the world, history, politics, and • Yale Model Government Europe– Budapest, even about people. If you want Hungary (November) that life changing experience, apply for any program— I’ve Applications Open! done 3 and have never been disappointed.” allamericanmun.com contents may 2019 up front C ALICE BENNETT PORTRAIT IN INDIA (JAEBOK LEE, PHOTOGRAPHER) features profile 3 AN INSIDER’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE CULT OF LONG ISLAND MUN The world of Model UN on the Long Island circuit is fierce— they’ll cut each other down before defending each other with zeal. 4 BEN SCHAFER’S JOURNEY FROM CHINA TO CAMBRIDGE Ben Schafer is an All-American superstar. He took his experience in China and propelled him to Harvard and next, Cambridge University. 6 NEXT STEPS: WHAT’S NEXT FOR OUR ALUMNI? Checking in on our alumni and their plans after high school graduation. feature 7 THE SEVEN DELEGATES YOU’LL MEET IN COMMITTEE Sometimes stereotypes draw on accurate observations. strategy 10 A STUDENT’S TAKE ON THE IDEAL FACULTY ADVISOR What are students looking for from their faculty advisor? 11 BUILDING FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS Take what you learn from Model UN to become the next famous CEO. style 11 EMBRACING WESTERN BUSINESS ATTIRE WBA doesn’t have to be conservative, conventional, or lame. editorial 12 NO, YOU DIDN’T GET SNAKED AT YOUR LAST CONFERENCE Chances are that you got the award you deserved. No one is out to get you or screw you over. Stop making up excuses. 13 MUN: A CASE FOR ALL FUTURE FIELDS OF STUDY Model United Nations isn’t just for social science and humanities students. Model UN can propel you into the science, medical, and law fields. staff KAITLYN SALDANHA Staff Writers Editor-in-Chief Thanasi Dilos, Maheen Safian, Steven Boehm, BRIAN JOHNSON ISABELLE LAXER Feature Editor Style Editor Nirvana Khan, Rizwan Kazi, Nour Ahmad, CASEY OCASAL ANDREW SOJKA Benjamin Knight, Pierre- Strategy Editor Community Editor Jean Clausse, Mauricio ASHLEY VINCENZO MUNAHIL SULTANA García Gojon Profile Editor Editorial Editor profile On rare occasion, these schools travel outside of “the Island” to larger AN INSIDER’S conferences and leave behind the tight knit community for an opportunity to engage with Model UN teams from across the country. While these opportunities are life-changing, the Model UN community at- PERSPECTIVE large is not nearly as warm. While we may bicker and complain about schools and delegates in the circuit, we have each other’s backs at national conferences. It is in our blood as New Yorkers. ON THE CULT Here’s what I love about my hometown MUN circuit: the question of OF THE LONG which school is having the best year gets debated at lunch break, exasperated sighs are emitted when you notice a delegate enter your committee who has won awards at the last seven conferences, and you ISLAND MUN will be judged by the same fellow delegates who you began your Model UN career as early as four years ago. Your track record will be gossiped CIRCUIT about and notes will be taken about which awards you receive from your fellow committee members for their teammates. It is true that the Long Island circuit may not be as well known as others; however, that does not The following article was written by MAHEEN mean these small town schools do not come to prove their worth when SAFIAN, a veteran of the Long Island Model the time comes. UN Circuit as a reflection of her experience. While this community has its flaws, the Long Island circuit’s glowing The Long Island Model UN circuit can positives certainly prove its presence. Be prepared to make at least certainly be a rousing and memorable several friends during each conference that regularly ask about what your experience for anyone who has not ventured committee assignment. Secretary Generals become friends and often outside of the typical collegiate conferences discuss with each other the best training methods. At every award that attract international attention. ceremony, your team will not be the only one cheering for you, but others as well. All of this is to say that when it comes to Model UN, bigger might Comprised of around ten high schools, mostly not always be better. public, a sense of intimacy and comradery rarely found at high level exists. Forget the glitz and glam of elaborately held opening ceremonies at HMUN or ILMUNC, the poshness of high profile hotels, the stress- inducing arguments with nationally ranked private schools, and decorated teams that dominate renowned national conferences. If the Harvard Model UN conference (HMUN) had a humble, small-town brother, the Long Island circuit is it. Conferences rarely last longer than two days, and they are held in school classrooms. Scribbling arguments on top of a hardy desk provides a homey feeling that is unmatched by a soulless conference room in a Sheraton or Marriott hotel. It is more likely than not that you have been in at least three committees with the chair for the conference— and that may work for or against you. Everyone knows everyone. PG. 3 ALLAMERICANMUN.COM // MAY 2019 BEN SCHAFER’S MODEL UN JOURNEY: FROM CHINA TO HARVARD TO CAMBRIDGE BY KAITLYN SALDANHA to be the President of Harvard University’s Interfaith Cooperation Group. Benjamin considers Model UN to be the Benjamin Schafer is an All-American Model UN superstar . activity that allowed him to approach interfaith work as such a After attending WEMUN EXPO 2014 as a member of the All- “rich opportunity” due to the appreciation he gained as a American Model UN delegation, Benjamin went on to pursue delegate for cross-cultural dialogue and his fierce cultural Model UN in college as well as apply the skills he acquired as a competency skills. Model UN is by nature an extremely delegate in striving for a career path to which he now belongs demanding activity, as Benjamin puts it,“ It’s a radical as an adult. proposition to say you need to represent the interests of a place you've probably never been, a people who you’ve As an undergraduate student at Harvard College, Benjamin probably never met, and work with others along the way only attended one collegiate level Model UN conference as a towards a specific outcome for the common good.” The delegate due to his realization of his affiliation for the outcome of that struggle is not only tangible change and administrative side of Model UN. Being an active member of political achievement, but the acquisition of cultural collegiate conference management presented him with the competency, communication, and political advocacy skills opportunity to engage with other Model UN delegates and across linguistic and cultural barriers. administrators from across the world. Benjamin reflects that Model UN was “...the thing that opened up my eyes to what Following the completion of his undergraduate degree at happened around the world. I wanted to give back and help Harvard, Benjamin plans to attend the University of other people experience the same thing,” which explains his Cambridge to pursue a Master of Philosophy in Economic and passion for running conferences and providing high school Social History, specializing in the long term effects of students with high quality, well-run Model UN opportunities. deindustrialization in the United Kingdom. Benjamin recalls The end of Benjamin’s highly successful career as a Model UN fondly that the topic of deindustrialization was a concept he participant came in the form of a gradual transition towards first encountered in Model UN. other forms of cross-cultural work, which eventually led him ALLAMERICANMUN.COM // MAY 2019 PG. 4 BY BENJAMIN KNIGHT With the end of the academic 2018-19 school year comes the momentous, yet bittersweet graduation of several beloved All- American delegates. These students now become the newest members of the accomplished, highly connected All-American Mod- el UN alumni. All-American Model UN stays connected with our graduates as they pursue higher education at world-class univer- sities and to strive for prestigious careers. What plans does the All-American Class of 2019 have for after high school? CECILIE JOHNSRUD (WEMUN EXPO 2018, YMGE 2018) Cecilie is choosing to take a gap year in Norway. The program combines outdoor exploration, volunteer work, and language immersion. She plans to spend the majority of the year hiking, skiing, and rock climbing across Norway. During the month of November, her group travels to Kenya to visit the program’s sister school. Afterward, Cecilie will be attending Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She plans to major in International Relations and is considering a minor in Mathematics. Cecilie is still deciding between a career in business or diplomacy, but she would love any job that would allow her to travel the world.