MUN: A Debate Club or Social Gathering?

While many could claim that an MUN conference serves as an experience to engage in debates, it is actually primarily considered by many of its members as a cultural dive in other people’s lives. 

The World Health Organization functions as a committee that ensures to promote health, safety, and help those in need. It was one of the first to be interviewed at this year’s annual ASMMUN conference. They took the peculiar and creative approach of conducting their lobbying in the tennis court outside. We took this opportunity to interview a group of students from different countries and varying backgrounds, asking them questions as to why they decided to attend this conference as well as their key objective throughout the three days.  
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Is MUN’s main goal to establish friendships and connect individuals worldwide? According to these next few interviews, indeed does this aim reveal to be true. 

• Sedren, a student from ASM, apart from showing solidarity to his school, decided to come to this conference in “an attempt to meet new people and garner new experiences.” They were “sure that this would be the perfect place to do as such while also having the chance to debate with others.” Sedren also claimed that they had been “successful to a certain extent” in meeting new people but “await to encounter more and sincerely look forward to it.” 

 

• Also Ceevee, a delegate from England, stated that they “joined this conference because I wanted to spend time with my peers and make more friends.” 

 

• Joya, a student from China living in Rome, came to this conference “they want to practice their public speaking skills” but most importantly “to meet new people from all over the world”.

 

• Additionally, Julia, a delegate from Düsseldorf Germany, said, “I joined because it’s a good opportunity to meet new people. I have been part of the club for about a year now as I joined last year, at the beginning of the school year.”

 

• One of ASM’s Italian students and first-year delegates, Ricardo, relinquished his weekend in order to participate in his conference for the sole purpose of the social gathering. 

Hence, while MUN’s prime duty is to let students from schools worldwide participate in debates, it is also widely acclaimed as an opportunity to engage in conversations and establish international relations.