During the weekend of March 31st, MAS students organized the Modern American School’s fifth annual Model United Nations conference (MASMUN). After five months of hard work and endless errands, our Secretariat team consisting of Abdelwahhab Al-Bakri, Ahmad Nasrieh, Jude Taha, and myself was able to sit back and relax as debate unfolded and a dynamic experience feigned among delegates.
The conference launched on the evening of Thursday, the 31st of March. Delegates from all ends of the Kingdom were treated to motivational speeches by the MASMUN team and our honorary speaker, his Excellency Nayef Al-Fayes, Minister of Tourism. The touching moments incorporated within the opening video sent some delegates to tears, but more importantly motivated them to work seriously and diligently on the given issues. After their dismissal to their respective committees, delegates entered a five-hour session of lobbying and merging. During these five hours, resolutions were drafted concerning the topics at hand and delegates fostered withstanding relationships.
Although many consider the first day of a Model U.N. conference the busiest and most intimidating, it is essentially the most important. Delegates are drafting the content for the next two days of debate and it is seen as an opportunity to develop arguments and positions.
The second and third days at MASMUN, and the first and second days of debate, exhibited memorable experiences and productive, enticing debate. Delegates in the General Assembly delved into controversial issues, such as the incarceration of black males in the United States; the Human Rights Council diplomatically brought forth proposals to build sustainable settlements for Syrian refugees; the Disarmament Commission urgently addressed recruitment of youth by international extremist groups; the Security Council declared war; the European Union suggested unorthodox solutions to unemployment; and the International Court of Justice mimicked a real-life court with its comprehensive defense and prosecution.
Besides debate, a member of the Secretariat (MAS student Jad Maayah) and a member of the Press Corps (MAS student Elizabeth Nesheiwat) found out they were admitted to Harvard, Dartmouth, and NYU respectively during the conference. As soon as we received the news, our friends erupted into applause and cheer. Elizabeth Nesheiwat and I excitedly rushed to-and-fro in the corridors before being tackled to the ground by our friends.
If I were to summarize the conference in one word, it would be noteworthy. The productive debate and memorable moments have become sort of MASMUN trademarks. Aspiring delegates attend our conference for its enthralling aura and the promise of an unforgettable experience. As the current leadership nears graduation, an incoming class of seniors prepares for next year’s conference. We wish them the best of luck and as we approach graduation bid them farewell.
Jad Maayah
Deputy Secretary General
MAS Times Contributing Author
