Newsletter December 2023
Distinguished Delegates,
The semester has gone by in a flash and we hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did!
Before we all enjoy a well-deserved winter break, we want to look back on the past month's events and debates.
MUNLawS 2023 Recap
Zdravo!
Our second conference of the year in Ljubljana, Slovenia was a huge success! Our delegation of 11 showed up and showed off, with delegates in various committees contributing valuable input into debate, as well as being the life of the party at the socials. This included very interesting topics within the United Nations Security Council, Human Rights Council, Historical Committee, and NATO. Additionally, both our delegates in the legal committees won their court cases, and a massive congratulations to Deniz Yildirim for taking home a well-deserved best delegate award! But most importantly, this conference served as an amazing bonding experience, with some memories sure to last a life time.
So Hvala to MUNLawS for an amazing conference!
We would also like to thank our sponsors SwissRe, UZH and UZH Alumni for enabling us to attend these international conferences!
Eli Kupiec - Head of Operations
A big thank you to our Head Delegate Eli Kupiec for leading our delegation during this conference, you did an amazing job!
Third Topic Block Recap
Wednesday the 13th of December marked the end of this semester’s MUN sessions, and the end of our third topic block.
Over the course of three glorious days, we conducted a crisis recreation of the French July revolution of 1830. Crisis is a form of MUN session in which each participants play a character in a historical event. As typical, this crisis diverged from actual history very rapidly, and involved the freeing of elephants from the Paris zoo, plots to infect many in the city with Cholera, and many assassinations. The ultimate victor was, to some surprise, Napoleon II, who was crowned emperor after both possible kings died. The event was very exciting and chaotic, and was a fitting capstone to this year of MUN.
We offer our congratulations to Max Schoen, playing Étienne Gérard in the revoutionary cabinet, and Leonardo Ballan, playing Pierre-Denis, comte de Peyronnet in the the legitimist cabinet, who were co-best delagates in this topic block.
Kai Schärer - Head of Finance
A big thank you to our Head of Finance Kai Schärer, who took the lead in organizing this crisis, and to all our backroomers for their fantastic work!
Beer Pong Recap
On the 30th of November we gathered at the ETH MUN office for the beer pong contest. Teams showcased remarkable skills, from behind-the-back throws to dazzling trick shots. The night celebrated camaraderie, precision, and the timeless appeal of beer pong. Sadly the MUN UZH teams didn’t win. Nevertheless everybody still had fun! There was plenty of drinks and snacks for everyone. We thank the ETH MUN for making this great event possible! Hopefully MUN UZH will get another chance to win next time.
Francesca Peacey - Head of Events
White Elephant Party Recap
In a festive atmosphere adorned with twinkling lights and laughter, a White Elephant party unfolded, promising an evening of quirky gifts and jovial exchanges. MUN members from UZH and ETH gathered, each bearing a wrapped mystery gift and a mischievous grin. Anticipation filled the room as the first person made their selection, setting the tone for an evening of unpredictable surprises. The gift options ranged from the delightfully eccentric to the downright hilarious. The exchange of quirky items and the ensuing lively banter added a touch of whimsy to the party. As the evening progressed, the White Elephant gift exchange evolved into a delightful game of strategy and negotiation. Participants weighed the allure of stealing a coveted item from someone else against the risk of losing their own cherished possession. Everyone was in the mood for Christmas, enjoying their glühwein in the festively decorated office. Despite being the end of the semester many stayed until the end.
Thank you so much to the ETH MUN for helping to set up and also clean up in the end, it wouldn’t have been possible without them! We hope for further collaborations and cool events.
Francesca Peacey - Head of Events
Rookie Interview Follow-up
Letizia
I ended up joining a legal committee, thinking it would be closer to MUN, but it turned out to be a mock trial. As a non-law student, it was quite an experience! I did survive, thanks to the other girl who was representing the fictional country with me. Sadly, it wasn't quite a "real" MUN conference for me because we finished ahead of the other committees, and the opportunity to get to know others and engage in MUN activities got a bit lost due to the small group and limited MUN context. Nonetheless, it was really interesting to experience something new!
Ljubljana as a city was amazing, and the accommodation couldn't have been better! The socials were a bit disappointing, at least the first night. We arrived, and everyone had already left by 11 pm... The second evening was nice; however, due to the socials being separate from the conference fee, not everyone showed up. Also, those who were there were all students from Slovenian universities, knew each other, and therefore didn't socialize with us that much.
Overall, though, it was great, and I really enjoyed it, even if the way back was a bit stressful due to heavy snowfall and some issues with the train providers. However, the few hiccups along the way made it fun!
Noah
I really think that all my expectations were fulfilled through this trip. I got to know a lot of people from all around the world with all kinds of backgrounds and I think that the conference itself allowed me to develop my skills and broaden my knowledge. As a Swiss citizen, being in the NATO Council felt a bit odd in the beginning but it allowed me to learn about its organization and what it stands for. I realized that I had a really poor understanding of NATO and it’s current objectives. The debates were really passionate and even got heated sometimes but I enjoyed their honesty and precision.
This weekend also was a great occasion to bond with the members of our delegation and I really enjoyed that part, as well as the evenings spent together in the nice city of Ljubljana. I especially enjoyed the first night out when we went to a local restaurant and a crowded bar. I discovered Slovenian food and that’s a big plus!
- Thank you to Letizia and Noah for sharing their insight to the conference with us!
Season’s Greetings
The MUN Team UZH Board wishes you a joyful Holiday season and a happy New Year!
We look forward to welcoming you back to our weekly sessions and events in the spring semester.
Until then, we wish you the best of luck and success with your exams and a relaxing, well-deserved semester break!
See you soon,
Your Board
Melkon, Tara, Mila, Eli, Kai, Francesca and Anna
Copyright © *2023* *MUN Team UZH*, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
info@mun-uzh.org
We would like to thank Swiss Re, VSUZH and UZH Alumni
for being our main sponsors this year!
