Costa’s Model United Nations (MUN) program kicked off December with one of its most anticipated events of the year: the Los Angeles Invitational Model United Nations (LAIMUN) conference. The event took place at Costa on Dec. 7 and 8, with over 1200 students in attendance from high schools around Southern California.
This year’s two day conference and fundraiser marked Costa’s 30th year hosting the event. Both returners and new freshmen in the program with the opportunity to debate and get involved by participating in novice or advanced committees.
“My favorite part about LAIMUN is being able to see all of our hard work come to life during debate,” said senior
MUN student Sara O’Brien. “I also love being able to meet so many new and interesting people with different perspectives.”
Delegates have been getting ready for the conference for the past several weeks, drafting their position papers, speeches, and solutions to global issues. However, teachers and students began the preparation process in early June, researching committees, organiz- ing registration, distributing country assignments, and finalizing classroom use and availability.
“Over the span of three days, one set up and two debate, all of the chairs, le- gals, and especially the secretariat are working hard all day to produce the best run conference in Southern California,” senior MUN teacher’s assistant Henry Michael said.
Parents, relatives, and younger stu-dents in middle school interested in Costa’s MUN program were able to experience the atmosphere of the de- bate as well. Juniors and MUN Chief of Staffs, Tara Khaleghian and Davis Radden, offered 45 minute tours to all attendees, which included a presenta- tion about the program, Q&A sessions for audience members with questions, and a guided tour of the conference and Costa campus.
“LAIMUN is a great opportunity be- cause it gives Costa MUN a chance to show off our skills that we have been working on in the classroom,” said junior MUN student Jordan Malone. “It was really fun to show what we have done, and run the debate ourselves af- ter spending so much time competing at other debates.”
MUN students can participate in LAIMUN by actively debating against other students, obtaining a secretariat role, or playing an evaluative role by grading student participants as a chair. The debates were centered around a variety of topics including human rights, climate change, and nuclear warfare. The conference enabled high schoolers to research and learn more about these pressing global issues, and practice their public speaking and debating skills.
“LAIMUN is the highlight of our year,” Michael added. “We get to see the other side of debate, and it brings the program together.”
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