Dear Advisors, Delegates, and Guests:
On behalf of the Institute for Domestic and International Affairs, I would like to invite you to attend Rutgers Model United Nations 2013. The conference will be held at the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick, New Jersey, from December 5th to 8th. During this four-day simulation of diplomatic dialogue, students will represent various countries and international actors. They will participate in debate and propose resolutions within their respective committees, highlighting some of the most pressing issues affecting our global community today. Students will not only have the opportunity to work toward developing their analytical and communication skills, but also widen their perspectives, engaging them as global citizens and allowing them to grow as both students and leaders.
By providing an exciting, professional environment that promotes cooperation and outside learning, RUMUN presents a dynamic experience that reaches beyond the conference itself. Composed of hardworking Rutgers students, our diverse staff spends a year researching topic briefs, and will be available throughout the conference process to offer guidance and assistance to delegates, helping ensure that they leave with a memorable understanding of international affairs.
At RUMUN 2013, participants will explore the role that population growth plays in many of the world’s most pressing issues. The conference theme of “Sustainable Development Goals,” will emphasize to students the role that they can play in shaping policy decisions, and the vested interest that they have in such decision making. This theme will challenge students to draw connections between different topical areas and disciplines to fully understand the cross-cutting challenges of sustainable development. Students will have the opportunity to examine and interpret real United Nations activity in real time, emphasizing the relevance and timeliness of sustainability in the students’ own lives. RUMUN 2013 will empower the students’ own voices, and encourage them to relate their personal experience to the United Nations simulation.
To provide a comprehensive educational framework, RUMUN 2013 will have a number of distinctive topics. Traditional bodies will look to address complicated challenges ranging from youth unemployment and rights to ocean resources to the ethics of modern warfare and unequal access to digital information. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will meet to discuss the intersection of development and climate sustainability, simultaneous to the same meeting of the actual UN body . Meanwhile, the Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals will draft the cornerstone legislation for international development for the next twenty years. How students debate and compose resolutions within such committees will give valuable insight as to the role of international organizations in supporting development, and the role that different, non-traditional stakeholders play in this process.
Registration for RUMUN 2013 will begin April 1 on the IDIA website. Due to limited space, I strongly encourage you to register as early as possible. If you have any questions related to the conference or registration process, please do not hesitate to contact us. We also organize outreach programs in schools, where experienced staff members help students prepare for the conference, and would be more than happy to provide more information. Whatever your needs, we will always be here to help. Thank you for your interest in RUMUN 2013, and we hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Sabrina Arias
Secretary-General
Rutgers Model United Nations 2013