2020-2021

Baylor Model UN Members Shine at Model Security Conference

On September 4-6, 2020 four members of Baylor’s Model United Nations team and one Baylor Model UN Alumnus participated in a Model Security Conference hosted by the Osgood Center for International Studies. The conference was attended by approximately 60 university students and recent graduates, who joined virtually from their homes across the United States as well as from China and Jordan.

The conference featured two concurrent Model Security Councils whose topic was the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT went into force in March 1970, and the conference commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of this important achievement in global security by considering contemporary issues related to non-proliferation and the Security Council’s role in the enforcement of the disarmament agenda. In preparation for the conference, students took on the role of Member States who currently have seats on the Security Council, researching and submitting a position paper in advance of the three-day conference.

Baylor’s four student leaders for the 2020-2021 academic year represented the United Kingdom in Councils 1 and 2:

• Caelan Elliott (Co-Assistant Head Delegate, Junior University Scholar),
• Sophia Fulton (Co-Head Delegate, Senior Business Fellow),
• Lauren McLane (Co-Head Delegate, Senior International Studies & Professional Writing and Rhetoric )
• Jennifer Nguyen (Co-Assistant Head Delegate, Junior Biochemistry & Political Science)

August 2020 alumnus, Andrew Person (History), represented Indonesia in Council 1.

I’m delighted to share that all five Baylor participants received Outstanding Position Paper Awards for their advance preparations AND were named Outstanding Delegations in Committee by the conference staff, the highest award given at the conference. In addition, the delegates representing the United Kingdom received the Delegate’s Choice Award in both Security Council 1 and 2, an award given by their peers.

This conference kicked off an active academic year for the MUN team, which will include four more conferences, two in the fall and two in the spring. Due to COVID-19, for at least three of these conferences, our students will participate virtually. The students who participated in the Model Security Council unanimously agreed, however, that they were pleasantly and delightfully surprised by what a positive experience the virtual conference provided, even as they were disappointed to miss out on the social and interpersonal aspects afforded by in-person conferences.

Baylor’s Co-Head Delegate, Sophia Fulton (Senior, Business Fellow), shared:

“Participating in the Osgood Center’s first online Security Council simulation presented both exciting new challenges and a comforting return to the expected debate and research of Model United Nations. Like the real United Nations, we learned to adapt to our current pandemic realities and still press on towards successful cooperation. The online format pushed us to develop especially relevant skills: we learned how to effectively network and build consensus when we can’t physically gather. The online platform presented new technological challenges, and yet we adapted and created viable solutions on nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This conference also helped me realize the skills we always prioritize in Baylor Model United Nations— humble leadership, strong research, and friendly cooperation— are even more important in virtual conferences and in navigating a pandemic world.”

Co-Assistant Head Delegate, Caelan Elliott (Junior, University Scholar) echoed Sophia’s praise of the conference, adding:

“Although switching to a virtual format for this conference posed unique challenges, I felt that I was able to grow personally and professionally in skills that are universally relevant to our time. Getting to research and learn more about the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the complexities of nuclear weapons and energy in today’s world was definitely an intriguing process, and I learned so much. Furthermore, working with the varying perspectives of other delegates on this topic helped me continue to grow, as I do in every Model UN competition, in key skills such as compromise, cooperation, and diplomacy, which I take with me into a variety of situations. I am very thankful to have had this opportunity!”

Baylor MUN is able to participate in these academic conferences due to the generous support of the Department of Political Science and the College of Arts and Sciences. We are grateful for the University community's continued encouragement of our team members. Our next conference is NMUN-DC, which we will participate in virtually on November 6-8, representing Angola, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. For more information about our team and its activities, visit our website.

Baylor Model UN Team Shines in Virtual NMUN-DC Conference

On November 6-8, 2020, 24 Members of Baylor University’s Model United Nations team participated in the virtual National Model United Nations-D.C. conference, representing Angola, Thailand/Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom. The delegation representing the United Kingdom was named an Outstanding Delegation, the highest team award given at Model UN conferences, and the combined delegation representing Thailand and the Russian Federation was named an Honorable Mention Delegation, the third level team award. In addition, five of our team members received individual recognition from their peers as Outstanding Delegates in Committee, and team members received Outstanding Position Paper awards in four of the seven committees in which they participated. The full team roster is included below, with award winners highlighted.

The conference brought together approximately 600 university students from around the globe for a live, virtual simulation of United Nations committees in which delegates took on the role of diplomats, researching their Member States’ positions in the months leading up to the conference and debating and crafting resolutions during the online conference.

Baylor students participated in seven of the eight committees simulated at conference: General Assembly First and Second Committees (GA), the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Human Rights Council (HRC), and the Security Council (SC). The team began its preparations in August, researching and writing position papers on two assigned topics that were submitted to conference staff in October. One of these topics was chosen by a vote of the full committees during their respective opening sessions for intensive debate during the virtual conference sessions. The topics our students researched and worked on included:

• Measures to Prevent Terrorists from Acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction (GA 1);
• Financial Inclusion of rural and Underserved Communities (GA 2);
• Halting Biodiversity Loss (UNEA);
• Building Smart Cities to Implement the New Urban Agenda (UN-Habitat);
• Promoting Gender Equality in Investment and Entrepreneurship (ECOSOC);
• The 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (HRC); and
• Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (SC).

The preparation for this year’s conference was especially demanding, as this was the first time the entire team participated in a virtual conference. This was the first time NMUN hosted a virtual conference, as well, making this experience novel for staff and participants alike. Jenny Nguyen, Co-Assistant Head Delegate notes:

“while we were definitely disappointed when NMUN D.C. announced that their conference would be held virtually, it was amazing to see how the conference adapted and still allowed for a great educational experience, and our practices and simulations were done on the same virtual platform that the conference later used, giving us the advantage of being more familiar and confident with the virtual platform.”

Caelan Elliott, Co-Assistant Head Delegate,  agreed and added, “Even some of the hiccups in the technology gave us the opportunity to practice being leaders in stressful situations, and we worked to move forward on our topic with the other diplomats with kindness, flexibility, and grace.”

Sophia Fulton, Co-Head Delegate highlighted the unique aspects of the online format:

“While the virtual format brought new challenges, it also brought unexpected benefits. During the committee sessions, I worked with students from Argentina, France, and Japan who would otherwise not be able to participate in an in-person National Model United Nations conference. Our team developed the skills to develop solutions for current global realities, defend their policy positions, and work with diverse teams all in a virtual format- developing skills that are especially relevant in the current global situation.”

Co-Head Delegate Lauren McLane summed the experience up well, remarking:

“The online format proved to be a unique challenge that required us to adapt our in-person skills to an online situation. However, it was exciting to see how effective the online format was at facilitating in-depth discussions of our topics, including the Security Council's discussion of protecting civilians in armed conflict. The personal connections we made with our peers demonstrated that even though we couldn't be in person, we were still able to have powerful discussions of global issues facing the world today.”

For a full list of conference topics as well as more information about the event, including the full list of participating schools and award winners, visit: www.nmun.org. In February 2021, the team will participate in the virtual TexMUN/OsMUN conference, representing 10 Member States in three committees, and in March-April the team will participate in the hybrid NMUN-NY conference.

The team is grateful for the financial support we receive from the Department of Political Science and College of Artis and Sciences, which allowed our entire team to participate in the virtual event.

Outstanding Delegations in Committee – peer nominated

Members of the team were honored with individual recognition in 3 of the 7 committees in which we participated:

GA 1 – United Kingdom: Caelan Elliott (Junior, University Scholar & Great Texts; Co-Assistant Head Delegate) and Anna Kate Walker (Junior, Economics & International Studies)

GA 2 – United Kingdom: Sophia Fulton (Senior, Baylor Business Fellows & Economics; Co-Head Delegate)

SC – United Kingdom: Lauren McLane (Senior, International Studies & Professional Writing & Rhetoric; Co-Head Delegate) and Jennifer Nguyen (Junior, Biochemistry & Political Science; Co-Assistant Head Delegate)

Outstanding Position Paper Awards – staff nominated

Members of the team received Outstanding Position Paper Awards in 4 of the 7 committees in which we participated:

GA 1

• Thailand: Lauren Thompson (Senior, University Scholar)
• United Kingdom: Caelan Elliott (Junior, University Scholar & Great Texts; Co-Assistant Head Delegate) and Anna Kate Walker (Junior, Economics & International Studies)

GA 2 – Angola: Lauren Jarvis (Sophomore, University Scholar) and Blakely Lowe (Sophomore, Political Science & French)

SC: United Kingdom: Lauren McLane (Senior, International Studies & Professional Writing & Rhetoric; Co-Head Delegate) and Jennifer Nguyen (Junior, Biochemistry & Political Science; Co-Assistant Head Delegate)

UNEA – Angola: Kaitlin Ochs (Senior, International Studies)

Team Roster

Angola

Abigail Geisler (Freshman, International Studies)

Elizabeth Herndon (Junior, International Studies)

Lauren Jarvis (Sophomore, University Scholar)

Rachel Jillson (Junior, Neuroscience)

Bryan Lizano (Junior, Political Science)

Blakely Lowe (Sophomore, Political Science & French)

Kaitlin Ochs (Senior, International Studies)

Travis Picco (Sophomore, University Scholar)

Rebekah Sharp (Sophomore, University Scholar)

Dani Wassell (Senior, Political Science & Economics)

Thailand/Russian Federation Combined – Honorable Mention Delegation

Jonathan Chew (Senior, Business Fellows & Mathematics)

Krish Kothari (Freshman, International Studies)

Grace Mathewson (Sophomore, International Studies & Spanish)

Mckenzie Quarles (Freshman, International Studies)

Emma Range (Freshman, Political Science)

Valerie Stewart (Junior, Biology)

Lauren Thompson (Senior, University Scholar)

United Kingdom – Outstanding Delegation

Danish Ahmad (Sophomore, Economics & Biology)

Glenn Buchanan (Senior, International Studies)

Caelan Elliott (Junior, University Scholar & Great Texts; Co-Assistant Head Delegate)

Sophia Fulton (Senior, Baylor Business Fellows & Economics; Co-Head Delegate)

Lauren McLane (Senior, International Studies & Professional Writing & Rhetoric; Co-

Head Delegate)

Jennifer Nguyen (Junior, Biochemistry & Political Science; Co-Assistant Head Delegate)

Anna Kate Walker (Junior, Economics & International Studies)

Pictures from Virtual Simulations

 

 

 

Baylor’s Model United Nations Team Shines Bright at 2021 Virtual TexMUN Conference

On February 5-6, 2021, 21 Members of Baylor’s Model United Nations Team participated in the 7^th annual TexMUN conference, hosted virtually by the Osgood Center for International Studies. At the conference, approximately 100 students from the United States, Ecuador, and Jordan participated in committees simulating the work of the General Assembly 3^rd Committee (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural), the Security Council, and the World Health Organization.

In advance of the conference, students researched and wrote position papers on committee topics including:

• Mitigating Climate Change for Inequalities (GA 3),
• Supporting the Involvement of Women in Governance and Decision-Making (GA 3),
• Maintaining National Safeguards & International Cooperation in a Pandemic (WHO),
• Viral Mitigation to Promote Global Public Health (WHO),
• Sovereignty and the International Responsibility to Protect (SC), and
• Safety and Peacekeeping (SC).

At the conference, delegates choose one of the two topics for closer discussion in committee, working together in caucuses to draft resolutions that sought broad international consensus and cooperation. Sophia Fulton, the Co-Head Delegate of Baylor’s MUN team and chair of the World Health Organization committee at TexMUN remarked of the work students did:

In the model World Health Organization committee, the participants professionally and expertly debated the international response to COVID-19. The Baylor student participants took the facts and research they had about COVID-19 and turned them into concrete policy proposals on stopping the spread of the pandemic. Learning how to take facts and research and turn them into policy proposals is an incredible skill that these students can utilize in whatever career path they take.

Baylor’s team, which was comprised of 20 delegates representing 10 different Member States and one committee chair, won an impressive 5 Outstanding Position Paper Awards, in recognition of their work preparing for the conference, which was completed over the extended holiday break and submitted in advance of the start of the Spring 2021 semester.

In addition to these position paper awards, multiple members of Baylor’s team were recognized for the work they did in committee during the virtual conference, receiving 4 Outstanding Delegate in Committee, 4 Distinguished Delegate in Committee, and 5 Honorable Mention Delegate in Committee commendations from the conference staff. The full team roster and list of students receiving awards is provided below.

These accolades are all the more impressive considering that this was the first collegiate conference for 13 of the 20 delegates on Baylor’s team and that the conference was held on a virtual platform. As Team Co-Head Delegate Fulton notes, “The success of Baylor's Model United Nations participants at the TexMUN conference points to the resiliency of the program to adapt to the challenges of participating in conferences during a global pandemic. The skills we cultivate in Model United Nations--public speaking, cooperation, and research-- matter even more in the online conference setting.”

Joining the 3 TexMUN committees in the virtual conference was a concurrent High School Security Council simulation, OSMUN, which included 12 delegates from the International Leadership of Texas Lancaster-Desoto High School, mentored by Baylor Model UN alumnus, Mr. Andrew Person (Class of 2020, BA in History). Mr. Person’s team received two awards in the OSMUN simulation, 1 Outstanding Delegate in Committee and 1 Distinguished Delegate in Committee.

Baylor MUN TexMUN 2021 Award Winners

GA 3

Croatia: Pricilla Mora Garcia (Senior, Political Science) – Outstanding Position Paper; Honorable Mention Delegate in Committee

France: Abby Geisler (Freshmen, International Studies) – Outstanding Delegate in Committee

Greece: Giuliana Hays-Angelelli (Senior, Philosophy) – Outstanding Delegate in Committee

Iceland: Morgan Arnett (Senior, Political Science) – Honorable Mention Delegate in Committee

Malaysia: Vyda Nguyen (Junior, Political Science) – Distinguished Delegate in Committee

Zimbabwe: Eldee Eyimife (Sophomore, International Studies & Communication)

WHO

Croatia: Emily Warwick (Sophomore, Political Science & Economics) Outstanding Position Paper; Honorable Mention Delegate in Committee

France: Giana Pirolli (Senior, Political Science) – Distinguished Delegate in Committee

Greece: Drue Powers (Freshman, Business Fellows) – Outstanding Position Paper; Distinguished Delegate in Committee

Viet Nam: Cameron Kallina (Senior, Political Science) – Honorable Mention Delegate in Committee

Zimbabwe: Ashton Kuhn (Freshman (Freshman, International Studies) – Outstanding Delegate in Committee

Security

France: Rachel Jillson (Junior, Neuroscience) & Anna Kate Walker (Junior, Economics & International Studies) – Outstanding Position Paper; Outstanding Delegation in Committee

Germany: Krish Kothari (Freshman, International Studies) – Outstanding Position Paper & Distinguished Delegate in Committee

Viet Nam: Danish Ahmad (Sophomore, Economics & Biology) – Honorable Mention Delegate in Committee

 

Baylor MUN TexMUN 2021 Complete Roster

Croatia: Pricilla Mora Garcia (Senior, Political Science)

France: Abby Geisler (Freshmen, International Studies)

Greece: Giuliana Hays-Angelelli (Senior, Philosophy)

Iceland: Morgan Arnett (Senior, Political Science)

Iraq: Bolanle Alliu (Sophomore, Political Science & Communication)

Malaysia: Vyda Nguyen (Junior, Political Science)

Thailand: Emma Range (Freshman, Political Science)

Viet Nam: Rebekah Sharp (Junior, University Scholar)

Zimbabwe: Eldee Eyimife (Sophomore, International Studies & Communication)

 

GA 3

 

 

WHO

 

Security

Baylor Model UN Team Receives Top Team Award and Multiple Individual Awards in Virtual NMUN-NY Conference

 

On March 28-31, 14 Members of Baylor’s Model United Nations team participated in the Virtual NMUN-NY Conference, representing Malaysia in 7 committees that simulated the work of United Nations and its affiliated organizations. More than 1,300 delegates, faculty, and conference staff attended the event, which was held on Gatherly, a virtual event platform that allows for interactive networking similar to the work students do in caucuses at physical conferences.

The delegates participating in the virtual conference joined from universities around the world, including students from Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela. Baylor team member, Rachel Jillson (Junior, Neuroscience), shared that this global participation was a highlight of the conference: “One of my favorite things about the conference was getting to work and connect with people from all over the world especially during this pandemic.” Abby Geisler (Freshman, International Studies) agreed, adding, “This conference was very exciting because it was the first time that I have gotten to spend that much time with people from so many different places throughout the world.”

In recognition of the work at the virtual conference, the team was named an "Outstanding Delegation" by conference staff, which is the top-level team award. In addition, team members received individual recognition in each of the 7 committees in which they participated, which marks the first time in the team’s history it received either an Outstanding Delegation Award or an Outstanding Position Paper Award in every committee. These awards were announced in the final sessions of conference, which came amidst a nearly campus-wide power outage that sent delegates scrambling to find places with power and internet signal so that they could hear the results of their hard work completed over the four-day conference. The full team roster and list of awards are included below.

The 7 committees in which Baylor students participated focused on issues related to global security, sustainable development, and human rights. Each committee was tasked with researching and writing position papers on two (NPT) or three (all others) topics in advance of conference. During the first conference session, delegates vote to focus on a single topic for debate and collaborative resolution-drafting for the duration of the meeting. The topics our students discussed and drafted resolutions at conference included:

• The Illicit Trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons (GA 1);
• Financing for Development (GA 2);
• Empowering conflict-Afflicted Children and Youth (GA 3);
• Climate Change and Health (UNEA);
• Population, Food Security, Nutrition, and Sustainable Development (CPD);
• Promoting the Political Participation of Women (CSW); and
• Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (NPT).

The preparation for this year’s NMUN-NY conference was especially intense given the late start for the Spring 2021 semester, which required that students begin their research independently over the winter break while they were simultaneously preparing for the regional TexMUN conference held in February. Team member Drue Powers (Freshman, Business Fellows) noted, “Although there was a great deal of effort required in preparation for this year’s NY NMUN conference, the work certainly paid off in the wonderful interactions and opportunities given to all participants as we wrote resolutions and discussed today’s most pressing issues.”

While we celebrate the team’s success and the awards they received, the students’ remarks on the academic benefits afforded by the conference remind us of the true purpose and reward of these activities. Vyda Nguyen (Junior, Political Science) reflected on the experience: “NMUN 2021 was a time to put our communication, critical thinking and collaborative skills to the test which our team has been perfecting and developing for the past few months. It was a chance for me to see my weaker skills become, now, my strongest skills.” Similarly, Giana Pirolli (Senior, Political Science) shared, “I am so thankful and honored to be a part of the Baylor University NMUN-NY 2021 team. I have learned a great deal on the importance of diplomacy and had the opportunity to practice crucial life skills, such as problem solving, leadership, and public speaking. This was an unforgettable and memorable experience! ”

For a full list of conference topics as well as more information about the event, including the list of participating schools and award winners, visit: www.nmun.org. In November 2021, the team will participate in the NMUN-DC conference, which we hope will return to an in-person format.

The team is grateful to the Department of Political Science, the Department of Sociology, and the Office of Engaged Learning for providing dedicated office and conference room space where the students could join the conference platform from a stable, secure internet connection and in a professional environment. The team is also thankful for the financial support we receive from the Department of Political Science and College of Arts and Sciences, which has allowed our entire team to participate in at least one virtual conference this year.

Outstanding Delegations in Committee – peer nominated

Members of the team were honored with individual recognition in 4 of the 7 committees in which we participated:

GA 2

Lauren Jarvis (Sophomore, University Scholar)

Drue Powers (Freshman, Business Fellows)

GA 3:

Caelan Elliott (Junior, University Scholar & Great Texts; Co-Assistant Head Delegate)

Lauren McLane (Senior, International Studies & Professional Writing & Rhetoric; Co-Head Delegate)

CSW

Rachel Jillson (Junior, Neuroscience)

Giana Pirolli (Senior, Political Science)

NPT

Sophia Fulton (Senior, Baylor Business Fellows & Economics; Co-Head Delegate)

Jenny Nguyen (Junior, Biochemistry & Political Science; Co-Assistant Head Delegate)

Outstanding Position Paper Awards – staff nominated

Our team received Outstanding Position Paper Awards in 5 of the 7 committees in which we participated. Contributors to these papers include members of the team as well as students in PSC 3375.

GA 1

Jonathan Chew (Senior, Business Fellows & Mathematics)

Anna Kate Walker (Junior, Economics & International Studies)

Chris Wong (Senior, Political Science)

GA 3

Caelan Elliott (Junior, University Scholar & Great Texts; Co-Assistant Head Delegate)

Lauren McLane (Senior, International Studies & Professional Writing & Rhetoric; Co-Head Delegate)

CPD

Eldee Eyimife (Sophomore, International Studies & Communication)

Cameron Kallina (Senior, Political Science)

Krish Kothari (Freshman, International Studies)

Pricilla Mora Garcia (Senior, Political Science)

Vyda Nguyen (Junior, Political Science

UNEA

Morgan Arnett (Senior, Political Science)

Abby Geisler (Freshman, International Studies)

Giuliana Hays-Angelelli (Senior, Philosophy)

NPT

Sophia Fulton (Senior, Baylor Business Fellows & Economics; Co-Head Delegate)

Jenny Nguyen (Junior, Biochemistry & Political Science; Co-Assistant Head Delegate)

 

Team Roster

GA 1

Jonathan Chew (Senior, Business Fellows & Mathematics)

Anna Kate Walker (Junior, Economics & International Studies)

GA 2

Lauren Jarvis (Sophomore, University Scholar)

Drue Powers (Freshman, Business Fellows)

GA 3

Caelan Elliott (Junior, University Scholar & Great Texts; Co-Assistant Head Delegate)

Lauren McLane (Senior, International Studies & Professional Writing & Rhetoric; Co-Head Delegate)

CPD

Krish Kothari (Freshman, International Studies)

Vyda Nguyen (Junior, Political Science

UNEA

Abby Geisler (Freshman, International Studies)

Giuliana Hays-Angelelli (Senior, Philosophy)

CSW

Rachel Jillson (Junior, Neuroscience)

Giana Pirolli (Senior, Political Science)

NPT

Sophia Fulton (Senior, Baylor Business Fellows & Economics; Co-Head Delegate)

Jenny Nguyen (Junior, Biochemistry & Political Science; Co-Assistant Head Delegate)

 

Pictures from Virtual Simulations