Western team competes at Model UN in New York City

Earns Honorable Mention award for representing the island nation of Malta

April 23, 2024

A group of students pose for a photo in front of a wall of portraits of former UN Secretary-Generals. The students are all wearing suits or formal dresses. In the center of the group, one student is holding a sign that says "Malta."

Western's Model UN team in front of a wall of portraits of former UN Secretary-Generals.

On the heels of a Distinguished Delegation award from NWMUN-Portland 2024, Western’s MUN team earned an Honorable Mention at National Model United Nations last week.

Sponsored by the International Affairs Association, Western's team competed with 150 other universities across four days of sessions. Paired in teams of 2, the delegation represented the Mediterranean island nation of Malta in seven committees, ranging from the General Assembly Committee on Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Issues to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

WWU students Olivia Morrow and Conor Lincoln won an Outstanding Delegate award for their performance in the Security Council, negotiating two passing resolutions on Sudan and South Sudan in addition to facilitating a press and presidential statement on a simulated crisis involving Venezuela and Guyana.

In the United Nations General Assembly Hall, a woman stands at a podium, speaking into a microphone. She is wearing a suit and has short brown hair. There is an emblem on the wall behind her. The hall is filled with people, mostly young people, who are sitting in rows of chairs. They are listening to the woman speak. On either side of the woman there are two large screens which show a close up of her face.

The WWU Model UN team at closing ceremonies in the prestigious UN General Assembly Hall, taking in the significance of the location as the world’s meeting place for critical global issues.

Each team gave speeches in front of dozens, if not hundreds, of other delegates advocating for Malta’s positions. Writing internationally competitive position papers on their committee topics, the delegates spent countless hours in training and research with the Association and their committee partners. After tireless diplomacy in the concrete work of negotiating, speaking, and writing, the team spent its final day in New York City at the United Nations itself, attending the closing ceremonies in the General Assembly Hall.

Western's team heard the encouraging words of two UN ambassadors speak on the UN’s upcoming “Summit for the Future,” where the international community will convene to address the pressing issues of innovation, youth participation, and equity across the world.

Despite the hectic pace of committee work, the team also found time to enjoy the city, going to Brooklyn, the Financial District, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the American Museum of Natural History.

One of the highlights of the trip over spring break was eating at some of the city’s excellent restaurants. Thanks to the Political Science Department and the University’s funding, the trip was affordable for all our delegates with lodging, travel, and conference fees all provided for.

The International Affairs Association will be competing at NMUN next year and meets weekly at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Later this quarter, we’ll be holding special events and simulations designed to introduce more Western students to the learning and skills involved in global affairs and MUN.

Looking forward to April 29, IAA will be hosting the State Department’s Diplomat-in-Residence in Payne Lounge from 3:15-4:00 p.m. for an informal discussion of political affairs in modern diplomacy! We’ll have snacks and refreshments available and are excited to continue our educational efforts in international affairs and diplomacy with this event!

Conor Lincoln
IAA Vice President of Model United Nations
mun@wwuiaa.com