Letter from the Secretary-General
Dear Delegates, Faculty Advisors, and Friends,
It is my distinct honor to welcome you to the forty-seventh annual session of the University of Pennsylvania Model United Nations Conference! Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania International Affairs Association, UPMUNC XLVII will take place at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel from November 14th to November 17th, 2013.
With so many collegiate Model UN conferences to choose from, how do we distinguish ours from the rest? The answer is simple: UPMUNC is known as the world’s most professionally run and enjoyable conference, shaped by our substantively exceptional committees and unforgettable special events. UPMUNC attracts over 1,400 delegates from more than eighty prestigious universities in the United States and around the globe, making it one of the largest Model UN symposiums. Despite the large size, our conference maintains a personal experience for delegates through our well-trained 300+ staff members, accessible 15-member secretariat, and popular committee speakers program.
Delegates attending UPMUNC will address a host of controversial and contemporary issues in forums of debate with great structural, historical, and geographic diversity. Our conference will cover an eclectic range of topics in each of its three organs: the General Assembly (GA), the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and Crisis Committees. This year, we are proud to offer stimulating committees ranging from the Pope Elections Conclave to the popular Ad-Hoc Committee of the Secretary-General.
We assure you that delegates will have an in-committee experience unmet by any other conference. The UPMUNC secretariat ensures that its staff is thoroughly prepared for conference through training programs and first-hand experience—more of our staffers participate in Model UN at the collegiate level than those of any other large college conference. With 21 outstanding committees, a qualified staff, and a committed secretariat, UPMUNC will again raise the bar in 2013.
If that were not enough, your out-of-committee experience will complement your time spent debating the world’s most pressing issues. At UPMUNC, you will find yourself in the heart of America’s first capital and within walking distance of some of the best-known historical sights in the country. For the past 46 years, delegates have traveled great lengths to enjoy Philadelphia’s robust nightlife, UPMUNC’s one-of-a-kind special events, and our legendary DelegateFest to cap off the weekend. Our secretariat also hosts a Summer & Opportunities Fair and a special event every night of conference to further enhance your trip to the City of Brotherly Love.
Regardless of how much Model UN experience you have had, UPMUNC will cater to your every need to provide you with a hospitality-driven and professionally run conference. On behalf of the entire secretariat, I welcome you to UPMUNC XLVII for what will undoubtedly be an unforgettable weekend. For more information on committees, special events, and other conference details, visit www.upmunc.org, which will be frequently updated to keep you informed about our event. I look forward to meeting you all in November!
Hirsh Shah
Secretary-General, UPMUNC XLVIIsecgen@upmunc.org
Letter from the Director-General
Dear Delegates and Faculty Advisors,
It is my honor to serve as Director-General of UPMUNC 2013. I would like to take a moment to personally invite all of you to our best conference yet: the 47th edition. We have already begun to plan the conference and I assure you that UPMUNC XLVII will continue to impress you with its quality of debate, social experience, and streamlined operations.
At this year's conference, we intend to amaze you in every way. For that reason, the talented secretariat is busy putting together a wide variety of committees that range across time, geography, and culture. Besides our world-renowned DelegateFest, we will have daily special events to make your experience out-of-committee as rewarding as in-committee. We also not only have an exceptional speaker to lead our opening ceremonies but also have speakers in your committees to make the debate all the more relevant. Looking out for the upperclassmen attending the conference, we will also have a Summer & Opportunities fair that allows you to interact with the recruiters from top graduate schools and internship programs in the country. We aim to make UPMUNC XLVII the most memorable conference of your collegiate career.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at upmunc@upmunc.org with any questions, concerns or comments. Also make sure to check out our comprehensive website, www.upmunc.org, where we hope to facilitate your pre-conference experience in style.
Akash Kumar
Director-General, UPMUNC XLVII
dirgen@upmunc.org
Letter from the Chief of Staff
Dear Delegates and Faculty Advisors,
It is my distinct pleasure to serve as your Chief of Staff for UPMUNC XLVII. I am proud to invite you to what will be our best and largest conference in our illustrious forty-seven year history!
I have had a wonderful experience working with Penn’s International Affairs Association, which includes some of the greatest Chairs, Vice-Chairs, Crisis Directors and Staff on the circuit. We have been putting in time and effort to ensure that UPMUNC XLVII is nothing short of amazing. I hope that, come November, you will all take part in a great weekend with us.
As Chief of Staff, I have worked with the Under-Secretaries-General and each individual staffer to ensure that all committees are led by a dais that has excellent chemistry. My top priority is to provide each and every delegate with a top-notch experience.
I am looking forward to meeting you all in November! Please come say hi.
Sasha Huynh
Chief of Staff, UPMUNC XLVII
staff@upmunc.org
Letter from the Chief Operating Officer
Dear Delegates and Faculty Advisors,,
It is with great pleasure that I invite you to the 47th annual University of Pennsylvania Model United Nations Conference. The UPMUNC XLVII secretariat is already hard at work and striving to ensure both the highest quality of debate and the best social experience at UPMUNC. As your Chief Operating Officer, I am devoted to the smooth and successful execution of the logistical side of conference.
A delegate attending UPMUNC XLVII can expect every aspect of conference to be refined to perfection. The wide variety of committees will keep delegates interested and engaged, and the daily special events, including our fabled DelegateFest, will be the perfect way to end each day of debate. Finally, our Summer and Opportunities Fair is designed to connect delegates with some of the most prestigious internship programs and graduate schools around the world.
We welcome all questions and suggestions, so please do not hesitate to contact us at upmunc@upmunc.org. I look forward to meeting you in November!
Haley Zarrin
Chief Operating Officer, UPMUNC XLVII
coo@upmunc.org
