By Rebecca J. Flavin, lecturer in political science and Model UN advisor

On Feb. 1-3, 2019, the Baylor University Model United Nations team participated in the 5th Annual Texas Model United Nations Conference. The Osgood Center for International Studies facilitated the conference and Lee College in Baytown, Texas, hosted it. The event brought together approximately 100 students who played the role of diplomats in simulated sessions of four United Nations committees: General Assembly First Committee, General Assembly Second Committee, General Assembly Third Committee and the Security Council. At the conference, 10 Baylor students represented the member states of China and Kuwait.

The topics our students researched in advance and debated at the conference included:

• Addressing the Use of Chemical Weapons (GA 1)
• The Role of Emerging Technologies in International Security and Disarmament (GA 1)
• Development Cooperation with Middle Income Countries (GA 2)
• Ensuring Access to Affordable, Sustainable, and Reliable Energy for All (GA 2)
• The Elimination of All Forms of Religious Intolerance (GA 3)
• Ensuring Equitable Access to Education (GA 3)
• Countering the Evolving Global Threat Posed by Non-State Actors (Security)
• Reviewing the Central African Republic Sanctions Regime (Security)

While awards are given at Model UN conferences, they are not properly called competitions, as the emphasis is on collaboration as the delegates work together to reach consensus on resolutions. Model UN conferences confer awards on delegates and teams to recognize excellence in both preparation and participation in committee, and at TexMUN the awards are based both on staff and peer voting.

We are delighted to share that at TexMUN 2019, Baylor students received multiple awards at both the team and individual levels, including Outstanding Delegation Awards in every category — staff, peer, and position paper. A full list of award winners is shown below. In addition, we are proud to recognize Eric Vining, a 2016 Baylor alumnus who served as a chair at the conference in GA 1. For more information about the conference, visit the Osgood Center website.

Baylor Model United Nations benefits from the generous support of the political science department and the College of Arts & Sciences at the University. The team and I would like to thank all of them for their encouragement and support of the students’ research and participation in these conferences. In April 2019, Baylor MUN will travel to New York City to participate in the National Model United Nations Conference, representing Ukraine. The team would also like to thank and recognize Christopher Ruiz, Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science, who traveled with our team and assisted with coaching at the conference.

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Students in photo at top:

Bottom row (L to R): Anna Kate Walker (freshman, international studies), Lauren McLane (sophomore, international studies), Daniela Pacheco (senior, political science)
Middle row (L to R): Andrew Person (junior, history), Noah Wiatrek (junior, political science), Luis Torres, assistant head delegate (senior, neuroscience)
Top row (L to R): Bailey Craig, head delegate (senior, international studies), Courtney Jewett (senior, political science), Sophia Fulton (sophomore, Business Fellows), Shelby Toles (junior, international studies)

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TexMUN 2019 Awards

Overall Delegation Awards — Staff Awards

Outstanding Delegations

• Kuwait — Baylor University
  Sophia Fulton
  Courtney Jewett
  Shelby Toles
  Anna Kate Walker

• Russian Federation — University of Texas at Dallas

Distinguished Delegations

• China — Baylor University
  Bailey Craig – Head Delegate
  Lauren McLane
  Daniela Pacheco
  Andrew Person
  Luis Torres – assistant head delegate
  Noah Wiatrek

• Cote d’Ivoire –- Texas Wesleyan
• France –- University of Houston

Honorable Mention Delegations

• Germany –- University of Texas at Dallas
• Netherlands –- Lee College
• Syrian Arab Republic –- University of Texas at Dallas

Outstanding Delegate in Committee –- Peer Awards

General Assembly First

• China –- Baylor University Noah Wiatrek
• Kuwait –- Baylor University Anna Kate Walker
  

General Assembly Second

• Germany –- University of Texas at Dallas
• China –- Baylor University –- Daniela Pachecho
  

General Assembly Third

• China –- Baylor University –- Lauren McLane and Andrew Person
  

• Kuwait –- Baylor University –- Sophia Fulton and Courtney Jewett
  

Security Council

• China –- Baylor University –- Bailey Craig and Luis Torres
• Russian Federation –- University of Texas at Dallas

Outstanding Position Papers –- Staff Awards

General Assembly First

• China –- Baylor University Noah Wiatrek
  

• Kuwait –- Baylor University Anna Kate Walker
  

General Assembly Second

• China –- Baylor University –- Daniela Pachecho
• Syrian Arab Republic –- University of Texas at Dallas

General Assembly Third

• Israel –- Lamar University
• Kuwait –- Baylor University –- Sophia Fulton and Courtney Jewett
  

Security Council

• Ethiopia –- University of Houston
• Sweden –- University of Texas at Dallas