After a three-year virtual hiatus, on Sunday, November 6, St. Andrew’s Model UN club hosted the SASMUN V conference on campus. Over 150 students and advisors from eight local schools attended the day-long Model UN conference, which was comprised of five committees, two general assemblies, and three crisis committees. Many of the schools attending commented about their excitement about returning to SASMUN and that it was one of the best one-day conferences they attend each year. 

The conference was a huge success due to the incredible efforts of the 19 St. Andrew’s students that planned and staffed the conference. Led by Secretary General Emily Wei ’23 and Director General Heidi Seo ’23, these students started planning for SASMUN in the spring of 2022. They worked over the summer writing background guides—reports that summarize the topics for discussion and debate—and then attended numerous training sessions in the fall to become experts in chairing and running their committees. Students attending the conference as delegates are required to research the designated topic from the perspective of their assigned country and prepare to collaborate with other countries to find unique solutions to global issues.

The major topics discussed at the conference this year included the safety of nuclear power plants, international arms trade, nation-building and constitution-writing after a revolution, agrarian policies and economic development, and U.S.-Russia relations during the Cold War. The conference’s general assemblies focused on “Disarmament and International Security”  and “Special Political and Decolonization.” The crisis committees included Jacobo Árbenz’s Cabinet, March 1954, Council of Panem, 2312, and Cold War: Cuban Missile Crisis.

The conference was designed to allow St. Andrew’s students to experience Model UN in a very accessible way right on campus, and served as a fundraiser for yearly conference expenses for the club. The conference is also an opportunity for local schools to help train their delegates before larger regional conferences held at universities in the winter. For many St. Andrew’s students, this was their first Model UN conference, and they performed outstandingly. Saints won numerous awards, including: 

• Best Delegate Amanda Meng ’25, representing Roberto Fanjul in Jacobo Árbenz’s Cabinet Committee;
• Outstanding Delegate Grace-Anne Doyle ’25, representing Vice President Lyndon B Johnson in Cuban Missile Crisis Committee; and
• Honorable Mention to Emma Hunter ’25 representing Peeta Mellark in Council of Panem Committee. 

In her opening speech, Emily Wei said, “Model UN is built upon creativity, collaboration, compromise, and compassion. As we sit here today and discuss difficult topics, each of us may be asked to represent nations or agendas that we may not fully agree with or understand. However, Model UN is about thorough analysis as we are challenged to keep an open mind. In the next few hours, you will create resolutions that seek to solve relevant, current issues. But the real work begins when the conference is over. As each of you approaches adulthood, it is imperative to stay engaged in your communities. From registering to vote to deciding your careers, each of us will have many chances to create impactful decisions that can affect our world. Though the issues presented today may seem daunting, your voice, knowledge, and support is crucial in making the world you want to live in. Everyone here has the ability to be a catalyst for change. Seeing you here, I hope you feel the same way as you engage in meaningful discussions today. I hope that these next couple of hours will be enjoyable as you learn about yourself and the world around you.”

Every student in attendance walked away more knowledgeable in foreign affairs and the skills required in diplomacy. The conference helped to show participants the value and importance of collaboration and compromise, whether they are dealing with some of the largest threats in the world or a disagreement with their roommate.

The school looks forward to hosting delegates back to campus next fall for SASMUN IV. This important conference continues to serve as an outstanding opportunity for St. Andrew’s students to develop leadership, event planning, and executive skills.