REPORT FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL Beth Gosschalk writes: Hopefully the MUN conference on the 12th March was an inspiring and enriching experience for everyone as much as it was for me. The amount of talent was immense, with so many confident and articulate delegates making very well thought out points. I was particularly impressed by the Highgate Wood delegates who were key figures in all of the committees, especially considering that this was, for many, their first time. The day ran very smoothly, thanks to the chairs and directors who successfully moderated the committees. They ensured that all debates were engaging and fast paced, which allowed the delegates to get as much from the day as possible. Committee sessions were also made this successful due to the help of the fantastic rapporteurs who, despite being a bit nervous at the beginning of the day, made sure that delegates knew exactly how long they could speak for and so on. Another vital part of the conference was the teachers. The conference would have been a lot more difficult without teachers so willing to give up their Saturdays to accompany students to it, however it would have been impossible without a handful of Highgate Wood teachers. Mr Robertson dedicated three months of his life to helping us organise the conference, Mrs Sayer made sure all of our delegates were well-prepared and knew exactly what to do and Ms Angove trained the rapporteurs and helped with the organisation on the day.
THIS YEAR’S CONFERENCE TOPIC Madeleine McBroom writes: This year's conference was on refuge and migration, a current topic being discussed frequently by politicians and in the media. I think that this is an important topic to debate because it makes you think about and empathise with people who are less fortunate than you. When you are in your different committees and talking about specific topics you understand how big the refugee crisis is and how many obstacles need to be overcome to provide shelter for those who have lost their homes. I believe that discussing a topic that is currently being discussed in Parliament today makes you feel more responsible, and this makes writing a resolution seem even more important.
It was a very successful day, and I hope that my enthusiasm is shared by everyone else who participated. Issue 29
March 2016
17