On Sunday, April 2, Williston’s Model United Nations (MUN) team travelled to Choate for a conference. They found success there, with four of the 25 members earning rewards.

MUN is a simulation of the United Nations (UN). The UN is a council of 193 member countries. They regularly to address world problems in a way a majority of member states can agree upon. MUN events are typically hosted and attended by high schools. Though most participants are prep schools, public schools are also invited and some do attend. Each participating student, called a delegate, is assigned a country to represent and a committee to attend.

At Choate in Wallingford, Connecticut, the day began as MUN typically does, with an assembly of all delegates. Organizers of the event spoke briefly on the goal of MUN, which is to build speaking skills and to reach a further understanding of world events. Delegates were then sent off to their respective committees, where debate commenced.

Debate in MUN is done differently than in a debate club. There are many formalities that must be followed. If anything is going to happen, a delegate must first motion for it. The chair – the person making sure all rules are followed – then either rules that motion “in order” or “dilatory.”

If a motion is dilatory, it will be dismissed; if a motion is in order it will be added to a list of possible motions. Once all motions have been added, a vote will be taken. If the delegates vote to proceed with a motion, debate begins.

There are many types of motions, but the main two are “moderated caucus” and “unmoderated caucus.” A moderated caucus is orderly debate in which the chair calls on delegates to speak for a set period of time. This process will continue until the motion expires, at which point the process begins again. In an unmoderated caucus, delegates will be free to do whatever they please. This time is normally spent talking to people who agree with you country’s position and forming a bloc. Each bloc will then begin to write a resolution. Resolutions are courses of action which are voted on at the end of the day.

The process sounds complicated, and it is made even more so when human error is involved. Williston did a good job on Sunday, winning four awards. Josh Calianos, Williston’s group leader even won best delegate in his committee.