Each of the school’s clubs and activities have aspects that make them stand out. For Model UN, multiple features set it apart. For one, it is built on a unique premise: simulating the United Nations.
“It’s the only activity at Haverford that makes students really tune in on geopolitics, diplomacy, argument skills, and compromise,” said Sixth Former Mason Wiegand. “For any student interested in politics or international relations, they should be doing Model UN.”
Led by Latin teacher Ms. Theodora Naqvi in conjunction with Sixth Formers Ian Rosenzweig, Milan Varma, Mason Wiegand, and Matthew Yerger, Model UN is currently in preparation for their first conference.
For any given conference, whether it is the monthly internal conferences in Ball Auditorium or the external conferences at the University of Pennsylvania or Cornell University, students must work together with other countries to pass a resolution on a chosen topic. Before doing so, students must conduct thorough research on the issues at hand.
“Before going to [the Cornell University Model UN Conference] in sophomore year, I poured about twelve hours of research into my position over a week,” Wiegand said.
“Public speaking is, without a doubt, the most valuable skill you’ll gain in Model UN.”
Matthew Yerger ’25
Though Model UN may sound straightforward, conferences can be harrowing considering the degree to which students exercise public speaking.
“Public speaking is, without a doubt, the most valuable skill you’ll gain in Model UN,” Yerger said. “Put simply, if you’re not willing to speak in front of everyone on your committee, you’ll have a hard time accomplishing what you want.”
Another critical skill is collaboration. As Wiegand put it, “The biggest thing for me is working with other people. In a committee, delegates will be dropped into a situation where they don’t know anyone, but have to find common ground and form a concise solution. It asks people to think critically and on their feet, which transfers perfectly to the real world.”
“Some of my best memories from Haverford involve us goofing around in our rooms after committee sessions.”
Matthew Yerger ’25
While in some ways similar to other activities like Mock Trial or Speech and Debate, especially in terms of emphasis on delivering speeches, Model UN is still distinct.
“It’s a little bit different than Debate or Mock Trial in that there aren’t straightforward winners or losers,” Ms. Naqvi said. “I think it’s a really useful way to think about why other nations have different values and perspectives on issues than [the U.S.] might.”
Through Model UN, student experiences become valuable lessons and memories. “Nothing beats having sixteen good friends crammed into three hotel rooms and spending four days together,” Yerger said. “Some of my best memories from Haverford involve us goofing around in our rooms after committee sessions.”
“I’d say everyone should give Model UN a shot. It’s not a huge time commitment, Yerger said. “You might miss a few school days for conferences, but that’s about it. Just show up for one internal conference—if you hate it, no problem. You might surprise yourself by having a good time.”
