Bromfield’s Model United Nations (BMUN) club, advised by world geography teacher Bryce Mattie, recently participated in the annual Harvard University Model UN conference, which lasted from Thursday, Jan. 28, through Sunday, Jan. 31, at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. Members represented Kuwait and Mauritius, a small island off the eastern coast of Africa. Funding to participate in the conference was provided by the Harvard Schools Trust.

The Bromfield delegation recently shared their experiences with the Press.

“For four days, we have a firsthand opportunity to learn about international affairs, practice debate, and overcome the challenges facing real diplomats who are trying to solve these world issues,” said Bromfield junior and club representative Katy Park.

“It’s really exciting.” Mattie added. “Students get the benefit of meeting other students who have the same interests as them. … It’s great.”

Since 1953, Harvard University has hosted a four-day Model UN conference where students from more than 2,500 high schools around the globe role-play international leaders of 192 UN-member countries. According to the official Harvard Model UN website, delegates have an opportunity to “debate issues that confront world leaders and ... draft resolutions in response to these global issues.”

Participating students are divided into specialized committees, including factions of the UN General Assembly, the UN Economic and Social Council, Regional Bodies, and Specialized Agencies. These committee sessions comprise the bulk of the conference.

During the sessions, which include both formal and informal debate, students discuss one or two issues of international importance over the course of the four-day conference.

To prepare for the conference, members of BMUN met on Wednesday mornings at 7 a.m. to research information on his or her assigned country or topics. “We prepare by extensive reading and researching,” junior Olivia Krutz said.

“There’s so much information behind the topics you’ll be discussing that it’s almost impossible to know everything.” Park added. “You just have to go to as many websites and sources as you can and focus on figuring out the overall perspective of your country so you can apply it to all situations.”

Krutz and Park acted as a double delegation at the conference, representing Kuwait in the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee. “It can be challenging to stay in the mindset of the Kuwaiti officials you are representing,” Park said. “You have to remember that you are pushing for the solutions Kuwait would want, not just what makes sense to you.”

For this duo, debate focused on the legality of gender selection.

“During the conference you have to run on very little sleep, long committee sessions, and sometimes no food,” explained Krutz. “but at that last committee session when the resolution you have been working on the entire time is passed, you forget that you’re tired, or that you’re hungry and all you feel is excitement.”

Harvard Model United Nations accepts students from many countries, including Pakistan, Turkey, Brazil, China, and more.

“My favorite part about the conference is the people,” Krutz said. “And meeting people from around the world is amazing. It’s definitely something that not every teenager gets to do. By the end of the weekend you have formed friendships that you will take with you in the future.”

“I think it’s a big accomplishment to finish the conference and look back and see all those hours of debate,” Mattie commented. “It’s kind of like you form a bond like a camaraderie with the people in your committee.”

By the end of the four days, students had partaken in opening and closing ceremonies, six extensive committee sessions, an optional college fair, and a delegate dance. Sophomore Bernadette Stadler won an Honorable Mention award for her work on the Special Summit on Millennium Development Goals Committee.

The Bromfield club began last fall, when two Bromfield seniors, Casey Clark and Ethan Randall, approached Mattie about starting a Model UN club. Since then, BMUN has attended two HMUN conferences, sending 13 delegates as Uruguay representatives last December.

“The intellectual growth and the preparation growth was just astounding,” Mattie said. “I was just amazed by everyone’s performance.”

“I hope to attend two conferences next year,” Mattie said, “so that the students who come and participate and are serious about wanting to go are able to go, and there’s not a whittling down process.”

The Bromfield Model UN team from left to right: Front row: Katy Park, Eve Karon, Olivia Krutz, Ailee Katz, Rachel Leicher, and Megan Harrington. Second row: Mary Egan, Bernadette Stadler, Stephanie Reeves, and Adeline Gall. Third row: Meghan Rooney, Mimi Narbonne, Ann Chacko, and Andrew Hong. Fourth row: Tola Myczkowska, Vishwa Rasania, Joe Beebe, Brett Keating, and Andy Tabrizi. Back row: Zach Clements, Jake Kline, Ms. Kathleen Doherty, and Ms. Bryce Mattie. (Photo by Tyler Papazian)