On Sunday, March 14th, Marymount MUN will be hosting its 16th annual Model United Nations Conference, MM-MUN 2021. This will be Marymount’s first-ever virtual conference. The 2021 theme is “Protect. Preserve. Prosper.” In each committee, delegates will be discussing many of the international community’s most pressing and contentious topics surrounding environmental protection. Through passionate discussion, diplomatic collaboration, and active debate, Marymount MUN hopes that all attendees will grow as delegates and as global advocates. According to the MM-MUN website, “Marymount High School holds a serious, long-term commitment to the Model United Nations program, having supported MUN on campus since 1982. Traditionally, MUN at Marymount High School is a co-curricular program open to all classes at all times, freshman through senior and annually, approximately 15-20% of the student body participates at some level.” Here, 2021 MM-MUN Conference Coordinator, Olivia Chamberlain ‘21, provides an inside look at virtual conference preparation and behind-the-scenes insights into the process of organizing and executing a successful Model United Nations event.

What is your vision for the MM-MUN 2021 conference?

“MM-MUN 2021’s theme is “Protect, Preserve, Prosper”. My vision for the conference has changed dramatically since confirming the transition to an online conference. While this theme was recycled from last year, I thought it fitting and relevant to today’s world; this conference will provide a platform for delegates to discuss important global environmental issues that threaten our collective future. With these crises impacting humanitarian, social, political, and economic spheres, we hope to spark innovation and debate, as well as ideas for future solutions to these problems.” 

What challenges and new opportunities did planning a virtual conference present?

“Planning a virtual conference has been an interesting experience. Most of my job in being the conference coordinator revolves around being on campus, so my team and I have had to adjust accordingly. Some of the benefits have actually fit well with our theme of being environmentally friendly: we have no need to print placards or nametags, nor provide breakfast and lunch (and even Diddy Riese) for the delegates. It’s difficult not having the complete experience of planning a Marymount conference my senior year, but I hope that some of the adjustments we’ve made this year will make for an easier transition for the conference coordinators next year.”

What topic/committee are you most interested in at the conference?

“I’m most interested in UNDP-A, which also happens to be the committee led by the amazing Sophia Scott. I’ve always been fascinated with population growth in the United States, and what it would look like if our country had stricter reproductive laws. It’ll be interesting to see what ideas people come up with in debating the issues surrounding current birth rates.” 

What are you most looking forward to?

“I’m pretty nervous but excited at the same time. I’ve been involved with two conferences so far, meaning I’m pretty set in my leadership style. Adjusting to a virtual conference has been a challenge, but one thing I’m looking forward to is the webinar at the end, where all of the seniors will reflect on their time in MM-MUN.” 

What does conference preparation entail?

“Typically, conference preparation entails a lot of organization. I would have help from the Secretariat regarding important decisions, like the theme and colors (both for the conference and design of our iconic sweatshirts), but most of the heavy lifting is allocated to myself and the assistant conference coordinators, who are Skylar Kalechstine and Joann Zehenni this year. The head conference coordinator invites a guest speaker, generally a past Secretary-General or other high-ranking members on the Secretariat, to give a speech at the opening ceremony. The head conference coordinator also gives a speech. Candidly, most of the work is done in the months preceding the actual conference. We print placards and identification for delegates, parent volunteers, mentors, and the Chairs. Once the conference arrives, we all hope all of our hard work goes without a hitch, but we are always ready to go if alerted of any snags.” 

What is your Secretariat position, why did you pursue it, and how have your duties changed throughout the years of conference coordinating?

“The conference coordinator essentially oversees the entire conference. Whenever there’s an issue on the day of the conference, it’s the job of the coordinators to solve it. The coordinators also have the job of advertising MM-MUN to other programs; we have our signature style, with our flawless Western Business Attire and dedication to Diddy Riese every year. I pursued the head conference coordinator job because, at the time of my appointment to the Secretariat, I wasn’t particularly fond of public speaking and competing in committees. I have a passion for social justice and international relations, which is why I wanted to stay in MUN and participate in the program regardless. I talked to Dr. Menard about my dilemma and she informed me of the position. I started off as an assistant conference coordinator when I was a sophomore. I learned that being the head was a senior position, so I decided to work towards that goal. Over the years, my role in organizing the conference has fluctuated; depending on how many people are involved with planning the conference, my role could be big some days and minuscule others. In my first year, I worked in a team of four, with two heads and two assistants. Last year, I worked in a team of two, with one head and I the assistant. This year, I’m the head, but I have two assistants. Obviously, this year is much different than the rest, so I would say that the majority of my responsibilities have been minimized because we won’t be on campus, and I have a lot of help from my two assistants.”