From January 15th–18th, around 30 Skyline students attended MUNUM in downtown Ann Arbor, a Model UN conference hosted by University of Michigan students drawing over 800 participants from across the Midwest. Two Skyline students earned awards in their respective committees.
Over these four days, these delegates researched, learned, and debated on a wide range of topics. They can mimic real world conflict, like how to handle decolonization, or finding a way to stop the 1920s era Prohibition in Detroit.
“At Model UN, I am a delegate representing either a character or a country,” says Hannah Wen (‘27), who won an award at MUNUM this year. “Recently I was in a committee where I was a drug cartel member and I debated topics such as the drug trade in America, trade routes, and defeating other opposing cartels.”
Wen has been participating in Skyline MUN for three years, and went with the club to NHSMUN (hosted in New York) last year. Most recently at MUNUM, she won the Outstanding Delegate award in her crisis committee.
Model UN can often help foster negotiation and social skills, alongside research and analytical thinking. “I think one of the main skills it’s given me is..how to [communicate] effectively to a crowd,” says Wen. “Making arguments where you aren’t undermining the other person’s side, but instead you are only trying to allow them to see your side is my favorite part and super important to be successful.”
Skyline MUN wouldn’t be able to attend conferences and learn things such as parliamentary procedure if it wasn’t for the dedication of the club advisors (Kathy Mackercher and Jeff Oleksinski) and sec-gens, experienced student members who help run logistics.
“I organize the meeting and all the details, like teaching the newer members, so we can go to multiple conferences,” says Sec-Gen Branden Broulette (‘26). “When I joined freshman year I was a terrible public speaker, and now I’m more confident and can speak whenever I want about pretty much any topic I can think of.”
MUNUM is traditionally a conference that Skyline MUN attendees every year due to proximity and tradition.
The second conference, usually out of state, that Skyline MUN chooses to attend can vary year to year. This upcoming February the club plans to go to BosMUN, hosted in Boston and attended by delegates internationally.
Anyone interested in joining the club or finding out more information can contact [email protected] or follow @skyline_mun1234 on Instagram.
