WHAT IS MODEL UN?

Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations. You are given a country and a topic. You research the policy that country actually holds, and then you spend a full day in committee defending it. That means giving opening speeches, taking part in debate, doing backroom negotiation, and working toward a resolution that either passes or fails.

Irvington’s delegation has over fifty students. We run meetings every week. We travel to six+ conferences each year across California and farther. We also host two conferences of our own right here in Fremont. There are no dues, no tryouts to join, and no experience needed.

Most students come in not knowing if they can speak in front of forty strangers. By their second conference, many of them are leading a bloc.

WHAT YOU GET

Three things this club is built for.

01

Development

You learn to research fast and argue from evidence rather than instinct. Position papers force you to know a country’s actual record before you speak. You also learn about global issues in our current world and learn about actions people take to defend from them. 

02

Leadership

Delegates who organize a bloc, merge competing drafts, and get people to sign. Officers, captains, and the FREMUNC secretariat are all filled by students who started as first-year delegates.

03

Public speaking

Timed speeches, unmoderated caucus, and points of order build the specific nerve it takes to speak under pressure. You practice weekly, in a room where getting it wrong costs nothing.

HOW A YEAR WORKS

From your first meeting to your last conference.

WEEKLY

Meetings

Meetings and officers give feedback afterward. This is where new delegates learn the rules of procedure.

BEFORE EACH CONFERENCE

Preparation

You write a position paper stating your country’s policy. Officers read every draft. And afterschool sessions are held to help develop you opening speech and public speaking skills. 

FALL THROUGH SPRING

Conferences

Six+ a year: Gunn, Stanford, Berkeley, Davis, Santa Clara Valley, San Francisco, Harvard, and NHSMUN in New York. Travel team selection runs in the fall.

OCTOBER

We host FREMUNC

Our own conference at Irvington, now in its fourth year, plus MiniMUN for middle schoolers. 

MAY

Officer applications

A written application followed by an interview. Anyone in the club can apply, including first-year delegates.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Before you join.

Do I need experience?

No. Most delegates start with none, and weekly meetings exist specifically to get you ready.

Are there member fees?

None. Individual conferences charge their own registration fee.

How many conferences will I go to?

The delegation attends six +. How many you attend is up to you.

Can I join mid-year?

Yes, new delegates are welcome at any point in the year.

Is there anything for middle schoolers?

Yes. We run MiniMUN and a middle school MUN program led by our own officers.

When and where do you meet?

We meet in Mr Belmonte's classroom (223) on Mondays During Lunch.