Conference Overview

This year SUSMUN will be held in Atlanta, Georgia from November 9-11 on the Emory University Campus. SUSMUN builds on the successful design of sister conferences held annually in New York (NHSMUN) and San Francisco (RHSMUN) by focusing on providing dynamic educational training that exceeds what is typified in most global issues educational experiences. This conference is great for beginners and experts alike, as well as schools new to Model UN and programs that have existed for decades. SUSMUN targets a wide spectrum of students and schools – and offers unique and cutting edge program unavailable anywhere else.

In 2009, SUSMUN's inaugural year, the conference established a new standard of global issues education excellence in the southeast by utilizing a unique conference structure that works with delegates at specific experience levels – beginner, novice, veteran, and expert. Faculty advisors and delegates alike spoke to the success of this model in encouraging debate and pushing for deeper understanding of topics while building command of the MUN debate strategies at all levels. SUSMUN also builds on the strong organizational foundations of IMUNA to provide a professional and engaging conference, creating an atmosphere most conducive to learning.

Conference Structure
The centerpiece of the Southern United States Model United Nations is education. It exists in three components:

• Model UN Simulation
• Workshops
• Service Learning Project

The first component is a Model United Nations simulation that is in keeping with the tradition of IMUNA’s expert conferences, NHSMUN and RHSMUN. Delegates will address a range of issues across 10 committees, debating real international crises and exercising accurate foreign policies. IMUNA has a long-standing history of managing world-class Model UN simulation. We will build on our typical model by making more substantive staff available to novice and beginner delegates. In caucus group discussions and with resolution-writing and parliamentary procedure, SUSMUN staff will engage delegates, to reinforce a more thorough understanding international diplomacy.

The conference will be divided into four levels so each delegate can find the perfect committee. For beginners with one or less MUN experience, the committee will concentrate on helping the delegates understand how a committee works and assisting the delegates to become comfortable and active in the MUN setting. The second level for delegates with 2 - 3 conference experiences will help them develop into MUN pros focusing on the development of their speaking, resolution writing, and consensus building skills. For the MUN veteran, the excitement of working with other delegates to find solutions for real world situations in an advanced committee setting and developing his/her diplomatic skills will prove challenging. For the experts, SUSMUN offers 2 crisis committees - the United Nations Security Council and the League of Arab States- where member-states will be challenged to find solutions and preserve global security. By placing delegates at the correct level, students will develop or refine both their MUN skills and knowledge of international politics.

The second unique component of SUSMUN is the series of workshops and panels. For beginner and novice delegates, workshops will provide training on the UN system and the role of NGOs, intergovernmental agencies, and other international bodies. Breakout workshops will teach parliamentary procedure and resolution-writing skills, and delegates will participate one-on-one in dynamic, “hands-on” education that teaches the skills of debate, speech-making, and consensus-building. Veteran and expert delegates will attend workshops and panels of experts in international affairs. The agenda for 2009 workshops included the Rule of Law (led by experts on Rwandan genocide and establishment of the Iraqi court structure) and Global Health (led by experts from the CDC and NGO workers currently attempting to eradicate Guinea Worm).

The third component is a service-learning project building on the belief that we must all be the change we wish to see in the world. In general terms, most students who participate in Model UN simulations have the educational background and financial tools that exceed those of their young peers around the world. In addition to learning about solving global issues, SUSMUN challenges its delegates to get about the task of resolving problems by participating in a service project before the conference and uniting behind a single cause in November. In 2010 SUSMUN will be partnering with Heifer International to develop projects throughout the year. Heifer is an organization that fits well with the educational goals of SUSMUN. Look for upcoming information about how your school can participate in this year’s service project!

Partnering with Emory University
The IMUNA team has a great deal of experience managing and administering Model United Nations conferences. Partnering with Emory University provides access to the powerful tools of academic research and expertise as well as a world-class campus, and it gives participants the opportunity to tour one of the nation’s premiere universities.