“At Model U.N. you’re pushed out of your comfort zone to practice extemporaneous speaking and addressing large crowds in a compelling manor. And you also work with people who share different views and learn to negotiate and find common ground.”
Charlotte Furia Loomis Head Delegate

More than 75 academic, artistic, social, cultural, and athletics clubs and organizations at Loomis Chaffee offer students many opportunities to meet people and get involved in the school community. One of these is Model U.N. Occasionally, we explore some of the clubs and organizations and recently met with four members of the team.  

About the organization: Model United Nations, often referred to as Model U.N. or MUN, is an educational model of the United Nations. Model U.N., according the MUNprep.org, “is an activity where you hone skills in negotiation, public speaking, and writing while dealing with meaningful real-world problems. You step into the shoes of world leaders and professional diplomats.”

Loomis moderator/coach: Faculty member David Edgar

Loomis head delegates: Seniors Sara Feged, Charlotte Furia, Sally Hayes, and Eli Krasnoff.

Loomis delegate representatives: Juniors Aditi Bhor, Aster Conway-Reppert, Aanum Khan, and Lilly Oslin.

Loomis public relations directors: Seniors Andrew Addo, Yilian Jiang

Travel Conferences

• UCMUN XXVI: At the University of Connecticut, November 8–10 (Junior Aanum Khan earned a best delegate award. Sophomore Rodrigo Castroparedes Cuevas and junior Triet Nguyen each earned outstanding delegate awards.
• CMUNCE XXIII: At Columbia University, New York, January 16–19.
• YMUN LI: At Yale University, New Haven, Conn., January 23–26.
• BOSMUN XXIV: Boston Invitational MUN at Boston Marriott Copley Plaza, Boston, Mass, February 7–9.
• NHSMUN LI: National High School Model U.N., United Nations headquarters, New York, March 7–10.

Loomis Conference

The conference date for LooMUN III has not been confirmed yet although it should be sometime in April, Yilian said.

What is it you enjoy about Model U.N.? Last spring Sara attended the International Education Program trip to Belgium with some Loomis Chaffee members of the Model U.N. team who competed in the Yale Model United Nations Europe conference. “Meeting people from different places, mainly Europe, and understanding their background and coming together to form a solution to some of the most pressing issues, I find fascinating,” Sara said. Eli said that in Model U.N. you’re “seeking understanding, collaboration, productive debate for problem-solving. My values align with that of the U.N., so I’m grateful it gives me the opportunity [to work with] with other students.”

What will people get out of Model U.N. should they join? Said Yilian, “You develop a lot of skills that are necessary for your success academically at Loomis and in college. One is public speaking. At Model U.N. you’re pushed out of your comfort zone to practice extemporaneous speaking and addressing large crowds in a compelling manor. And you also work with people who share different views and learn to negotiate and find common ground.” Said Charlotte, “You’re able to understand other people's perspectives. That works against the heavily polarized environment we’re in now with politics and allows you to hear what others have to say, take what they're saying, and collaborate and make compromises.” Yilian said there are other benefits, such as team dinners, seeing sights in a city to which you travel, and getting to know your teammates in an environment that helps foster strong relationships. Eli said he still texts with students from other schools he has met at conferences. 

Preparing for conferences: There are weekly prep meetings leading up to conferences led by the head delegates with skills training workshops. Students will do such things as practice their opening speeches, write resolutions, and draft position papers. “Research is key,” Sara said, “so this teaches you better research skills.” Charlotte said that research when representing a certain country includes gaining a wide array of perspectives and paying attention to the daily news from that country.

Instagram account: @loomismun