D-E’s Model UN Club (D-EMUN) recently hosted six high schools for the annual D-EMUN conference, a two-day event that simulates the research, negotiations, and resolution writing that occur during United Nations summits. Max Koppelman ’26 and Gabriel Rhodes ’26 were Committee Chairs for D-EMUN’s General Assembly, which covered the topics of state-sponsored espionage in peacetime and the regulation of private military contractors in wartime. The Specialized Committees—the White House Situation Room, co-chaired by Alex Rhee ’28 and Ripley Golden ’26; and NATO, co-chaired by Ben Blitz ’26 and Hannah Chun ’27—discussed the Cuban Missile Crisis and the militarization of the Arctic, respectively. In a fun twist, the theme of the Crisis Committee was Squid Game, based on the popular TV show, led by Committee Chairs Hayley Fuld ’26 and Ezra Newman ’26 as well as Crisis Directors Asha Harker ’27 and Nick Bevilacqua ’27. “Our [D-EMUN] Secretariat and senior members have worked incredibly hard to get ready for this event,” said Ms. Baltes, Director of Human Resources, who co-advises the club with Dr. Vendell. All of the conference work is entirely student driven, including extensive background guides for each committee.” According to student leader Max, the conference, which has been in the works for a year, welcomed more than 100 delegates. “D-EMUN has consistently been one of the largest clubs on campus,” he said, noting that the club not only debates complex issues, but also focuses on current events, international diplomacy, and traveling to conferences together. Experiences like this help our students aim to be citizens of the world. And as is also reflective of the D-E mission, all proceeds from candy grams sold during the conference will be donated to the Bergen Family Center.
