Westminster held two Model United Nations this year, in October and March, organised by Tom Barnet-Lamb and Frederick van der Wyck respectively, under the guidance of Dr. Kalivas. In an MUN, pupils from a variety of schools, including some from Westminster, team-up to form delegations of five or six people, to represent different states in a simulated United Nations. After some 'lobbying' when people arrive, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning are spent in 'committees', meetings on specific topic areas attended by one delegate from each country. On Sunday afternoon, the resolutions passed during the committee stage are discussed in the General Assembly, where everybody is present. There is always something of a danger that things get out of hand when everybody gathers Up School but with the exception of a particularly cocky individual who decided that he would use the microphone to show off his singing, all went well during the second MUN. This was a relief after the excitement of the first, when it was necessary to forcibly remove one of the North Korean delegates who seemed to be taking his country's attitude in international politics to heart too much.
Of all the Westminsters involved in organising the event, arguably the best job went to those who got to pass notes between the delegates. While running around with scraps of paper as part of the 'Secretariat' facility might seem less than enjoyable, the content of the notes usually contributed to some general amusement! The notes were also keenly intercepted by the press who, particularly in the second of the two MUNs, were extremely active, doing their best to find embarrassing photos to insert between their snide comments. Most of the delegates showed an interest in the political issues around which the occasion was nominally centred, as well as in the gossip being circulated by the press and many expressed an interest in returning for future MUNs, which we hope will build on this year's successes.
Frederick van der Wyck DD