Canterbury MUN Students Shine at GatorMUN

Below is a recap report put together from MUN officers on the participation and outcomes from each member. 

Mia A. '22 represented Patrick Leahy in the 'A Republic If We Can Keep It: Constitutional Convention (2003) Committee'. She discussed the form that the legislative branch should take, the right to privacy, and the requirements to run for office. Mia created a legislative report that loosened electoral qualifications, emphasized diversity of perspective, and promoted education. She also passed an admittance amendment in the actual Constitution that facilitated the process of transforming US territories into independent nations, states, or commonwealths. Mia was named Best Delegate in her Legislative Subcommittee for her hard work. Congratulations, Mia!

 

David G. '22 represented the College Board in the American Inc. Board of Directors Committee. As representatives of the corporations leading America, David discussed potential forms of government, as well as the economic theory the nation should follow. He led the development of the Student Assistance Program directive to help the Workforce Across America gain access to higher education. In crisis notes, he unified all standardized tests and took over all primary schooling in the US. David was awarded a Verbal Commendation for his efforts.

 

Daniel Z. '22 represented Dude Perfect in the Ad-Hoc YouTube Ad-Pocalypse Committee. He debated the YouTube Terms of Service and the company's relationship with its creators and corporate sponsors. Daniel worked on directives to address complaints from YouTube creators, as well as various public relations controversies that arose. He also partnered with ESPN and Nickelodeon to promote his own channel, eventually merging his company with ESPN. For his efforts in the committee, Daniel received a Verbal Commendation.

 

Lara K. ‘23 represented Lazaros in the Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again committee. She worked to plan the wedding of the daughter of the President of Greece at the Hotel Bella Donna. Lara worked on directives to resolve various calamities surrounding the wedding, such as floods, protests, and murders. In crisis notes, she enacted plans to remove the President of Greece from power, remove the groom from the wedding, and replace the groom in order to gain power. Lara was awarded a Verbal Commendation for her efforts.

 

Geneva P. ‘23 represented Paul Madigan, Lieutenant 2 in the Alcatraz: 1934 committee. The committee focused on solving issues regarding prisoners’ rights, lack of funding for the Alcatraz prison, and public opinion on the prison. Geneva’s position concerned softer treatment of the prisoners, including the creation of activities like an Alcatraz Band and a book club. Geneva helped pass several directives, including one that created incentives for prisoners to work, and one that helped stop dangerous riots throughout the prison. Geneva was awarded a Verbal Commendation for her efforts.

 

Isaiah A. '22 represented the Liaison to the Department of Defense in the NASA Board of Directors Committee. The committee focused on the future of the National Aeronautics and Space Association in 1998, specifically regarding the launch of the International Space Station, international cooperation in the race to explore the cosmos, and the growing disdain felt by the United States government against NASA and science in general.  Isaiah’s position as the Liaison to the Department of Defense was militant, as he supported the use of force in the effort to jump ahead of other countries in scientific innovation. Isaiah successfully used a crisis note to boost the American public’s support for NASA significantly by dealing with the problem of President Bill Clinton’s anti-scientific beliefs.

 

Brenda Z. ‘22 represented Eliot Spitzer in 'A Republic If We Can Keep It: Constitutional Convention (2003)'. She was tasked with drafting new articles of the Constitution, specifically concerning the judicial branch. Brenda led a bloc that focused on the philosophy of a living constitution and made sure that the framework was adapted to modern-day issues, such as the right to privacy, judicial review, term limits, and the idea of technology as property. Brenda was on the author’s panel and passed her majority paper in tandem with the legislative minority and executive minority.

 

Ari M. '22 represented Aigues-Mortes in the Global Summit of Micronations Committee. He discussed the independence movements of the world's micronations, as well as their recognition by the United Nations. He helped pass directives that officially incorporated micronations into the UN, as well as provide economic support to those micronations. Ari merged with the micronation of Reunion to boost their salt and sugar trades, and secured his independence from France.

 

Chase A. ‘23 represented Zakaria Mohieddin in the Egypt Revolutionary Command Council. He discussed the reformation and reconfiguration of the Egyptian government from 1952 to 1957. Chase’s position stressed the need for pan-Arabism in Egypt and the Middle East, as he believed it was necessary to solve Egypt’s political crisis. He also stressed the importance of foreign assistance from the United States. In his crisis notes, Chase’s character strategically removed numerous influential politicians from power, clearing the way for him to bribe United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower to make Chase the Prime Minister of Egypt.  Lastly, Chase was a sponsor on a directive that drafted a Bill of Rights for Egypt.

 

Ishaan A. ‘23 represented Sir Claudin in the Crisis in Camelot: King Arthur’s court committee. The committee focused on resolving problems regarding the nearby territories of the “Fey”, as well as solving domestic issues by getting both the nobility and the peasantry on King Arthur’s side. Ishaan’s position advocated for sending representatives to the Fey people and presenting gifts. Ishaan, through his crisis notes, succeeded in learning magic by reading spellbooks. He then used that magic to quell a particularly antagonistic tree. Ishaan was a sponsor on a directive that created a food bank for the peasantry, with King Arthur as the face of the program, which brought many members of the peasantry on King Arthur’s side.

 

Neal V. ‘23 represented Dusty Rhodes in the Monday Night Wars: WCW vs WWF committee. The committee focused on the conflicted programming between the WCW and the WWF.  Neal attempted to secure more viewers for his WCW side by suggesting interactive crowd games like pranks on different audience members and by instituting a “beach-day” venue for a wrestling match, which included a host of beach activities for the viewers.  In his crisis notes, Neal successfully sent a rival wrestler to jail.  He also sponsored a directive that started a program where NFL players, like legendary Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, would come and participate in the wrestling matches.

 

Ben C. '23 represented Kazakhstan in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) committee. He debated the topic of developments of climate change based on the Sixth Assessment Report. Ben led a paper that provided funding for ideas such as conducting analyses of countries’ renewable energy potential, waste and sewage management, and improvement of agricultural practices in developing countries. Ben led debate and developed solutions to pressing issues such as expansion of strategic technology, creation of a stock exchange to fund climate change initiatives, and setting up exchange programs in developing countries. 

 

Jake Z. '23 represented India in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Committee (IPCC). He debated global responses to climate change, as well as the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on climate change. Jake's arguments helped influence the creation of a Greener Solution resolution that established a scientific panel to ensure accurate carbon reports, as well as promote global education to increase awareness of climate change.

 

Max B. '23 represented The Giant in the Monday Night Wars: WCW vs. WWF Committee. He led the discussion on how to boost the ratings of the WCW and combat the growing popularity of the WWF. He helped create directives that brought different fanbases into the WCW through collaborations with the NFL and other broadcasting companies. In his crisis notes, Max aimed to poach wrestlers from the WWF to siphon their viewers and gain insider information, as well as promote both the veteran and rookie wrestlers of the WCW.

 

Jack B. ‘23 and Charlie M. ‘23 represented India in the duo-delegate World Health Organization (WHO) Committee. Together, they introduced a number of well-thought-out ideas for eradicating non-communicable diseases. They worked on the Helping Those in Need, or HTIN, paper, which focused on novel solutions to the issue. They argued for a plan in which a more powerful tobacco products tax was slowly established, in order to decrease cases of lung disease from smoking. They also facilitated the use of medical drones to distribute medicines to places that are currently considered to be inaccessible by other means.

 

Grady L. ‘24 represented Kazakhstan in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Committee. He was a leader of discourse concerning LGBTQ rights, cautioning people to consider the logistics of any actions taken. He championed the SAFE doctrine, in which a plan was put in place to provide safety, asylum, funding, and education to those who need it. Grady was a sponsor of the paper and skillfully fielded questions on his work during the author’s panel.

 

Michaela F. ‘24 and Alexa G. ‘24 represented India in the dual-delegate Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). Over the course of the weekend, they led discussions concerning sustainability in outer space. The two worked on the ECC paper, which addressed the issues of equality, collaboration, and climate. Alexa and Michaela worked diligently to address inequalities in gender and race, as well as to form a coalition of nations in which developed countries provide undeveloped countries with information and research. They worked as sponsors of their paper to facilitate the transfer of information and expertly fielded questions during the author’s panel.

 

Kai W. ‘24 represented India in the Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC). The committee focused on solutions for the Chinese Civil War, a dispute between China and Taiwan concerning Taiwan’s right to sovereignty. Kai’s position as India was centrist. He argued that Taiwan should not be a completely independent country, but should also not simply be a part of China. He also supported both nations maintaining international ties. He contributed to a paper entitled “Money Talks” and “Eye on the Money”, both of which argued for Kai’s stance.

 

Laith A. ‘25  represented India in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Committee. He debated the rights of the LGBTQ communities in countries around the world. He pushed for expanding asylum for members of the community to flee persecution and move to more accepting states. He also directed the creation of a resolution that promoted safety and education on the topic, and skillfully defended it in the author’s panel.

 

Sofija V. ‘23 represented Vladislava Gibbs in the Monsters Inc. committee. The goal of this specialized general assembly was to construct a plan to safely guide from an era of “scream power” to an era of “laugh power”. In her bloc, Sofija led initiatives to educate the youth, create job security through unionization, and provide training courses to new facility workers. She augmented other plans on the floor with her creative solution. She led her bloc and committee in letting the change in energy occur naturally. Sofija was honored as an Outstanding Delegate for her efforts. Amazing work, Sofija!

 

Maya C. ‘22 represented India in the Social and Humanitarian Council (SOCHUM). She devised multifaceted solutions to child slavery along with her committee.