About Model UN
When and Where?
The Model United Nations Simulation will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2009 in the William Pitt Union, 3959 Fifth Avenue on the University of Pittsburgh Oakland campus.
What is a Model UN?
The Model UN is a simulation of the sessions of the United Nations. This is an opportunity for students to apply prior research and studies in a “real-world” context and practice diplomacy, negotiating, and resolution writing.
At Issue
The 2009 Model UN Simulation will call into session:
- Security Council
- General Assembly First Committee: Disarmament and International Security (DISEC)
- General Assembly Second Committee: Economic and Financial (ECOFIN)
- Development Programme (Novice)
- Environment Programme
- Human Rights Council
The scenarios and issues for discussion/debate appear in the 2009 Manual.
Tentative Schedule
(All sessions will be in the William Pitt Union)
8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Introduction/Announcements
9:30 a.m. Committee Meetings
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. staggered lunch schedule
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Committees continue
4:30 p.m. General Assembly
5:00 p.m. Dismissal
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY FOR THE ENTIRE DAY. If your school cannot do this, please do not register.
Position Papers
A well-crafted position paper can serve as an excellent preparatory tool for Model U.N. participants. It helps guide preparation and research among members of a delegation. The position paper will outline your country’s policies regarding topics that will be discussed in your Committee.
Please note that PittMUN’s policy regarding position papers has changed from previous years. Position papers are no longer required from all delegates. Position papers will be optional but will be considered for an award. The top three position papers will be recognized at closing ceremonies with the top paper receiving the Clarke Thomas Memorial Award.
In order to be considered for an award position papers must be emailed to pittmodelunitednations@gmail.com no later than October 19, 2009. A confirmation email will be sent upon receipt of the position paper. Delegates should not assume that the paper has been received until the sender receives this confirmation. In order to be considered position papers must adhere to all of the following requirements.
Position papers will only be considered from specific delegations (for example France in the Security Council) and only if both topics are addressed. The following formatting requirements must be followed for consideration of an award:
- Position papers should be attached to an email in .doc format
- The file should be named as follows: country_committee
- Each topic should be addressed in a separate section but contained in one file
- Each topic must be no more than 500 words
- There should be a header with the country and committee name
- Student and school names should not appear in the position paper
- The font should be 12 pt Times New Roman
- There must be at least 3 sources cited for each topic – no specific citation format is required but the source must be reasonably identifiable
The content of the position paper should follow this format:
- First paragraph: Overview of the topic
- General history of this issue
- How this topic affects your country
- Specific events that have occurred related to this issue in the past 3-5 months
- Second paragraph: Country’s specific history in regard to the topic
- Your country’s previous policies and actions towards this topic
- Policies and actions of neighboring and/or allied countries
- Neighboring and/or allied countries’ reaction to your country’s policies and actions
- Third paragraph: Goals for the conference
- Propose solutions for the future
- Action that your country believes needs to be taken
- What your country is looking for in a resolution
- Aspects of this topic on which your country is willing to compromise
Answering the questions above will help you prepare your position papers, and for the actual conference. Sometimes, you need to dig deep to find answers to many of these questions. In other cases, your country may be indifferent to a topic. However, in the United Nations, indifference is an opinion too. Agreeing with a block of countries on one issue may help or hurt you in negotiations in which your country has a vested interest.
A panel of judges drawn from the PittMUN staff will review position papers for the award. Due to the volume of papers they will not be returned and critique or criticism will not be offered. The judges may disqualify any position paper at their discretion for failure to adhere to the guidelines or for plagiarism. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated and will disqualify the student for any award at the 2009 PittMUN conference and the student’s teacher will be notified.
Please direct any questions regarding position papers to pittmodelunitednations@gmail.com .
Dress Code
We are requiring that all delegates dress in a manner befitting international diplomats. The rule of thumb for professional attire at Pitt’s Model United Nations is “Western business attire.” Because of a few problems last year, we will reiterate: no denim (including skirts), no spaghetti straps (shoulders and upper arms must be covered), skirts must be knee length, no athletic shoes, and the young men must wear shirts and ties. Teachers may copy this dress code and send it home to parents.
Please be aware that if a student does not dress appropriately, it will be at the discretion of Pitt Model UN as to whether or not the student can participate in the program.
Sponsors
The University of Pittsburgh Model United Nations Simulation is sponsored by:
- Global Solutions Education Fund Pittsburgh
- The University Center for International Studies and its area studies programs:
- Asian Studies Center
- Global Studies Program
- Center for Latin American Studies
- Center for Russian & East European Studies
- European Union Center of Excellence/European Studies Center
- University of Pittsburgh International Business Center
- Pitt’s Model UN Club
- The United Nations Association of Pittsburgh
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