User:Stevab/ILMUNC

The Ivy League Model United Nations Conference, or ILMUNC, is one of the largest Model UN conferences for high school students worldwide. It is hosted by the University of Pennsylvania's International Affairs Association. Penn's ILMUNC High School Conference, along with the conferences hosted by Georgetown and Harvard are the three largest and most competitive conferences in the country. The annual conference is organized and run entirely by Penn undergraduates. High school model UN conferences like ILMUNC are academic simulations of the United Nations that try to educate participants about global issues. Students generally take the roles of delegates and diplomats and participate in organized and simulated sessions of an international institution or body. Over 90,000 students take part in Model United Nations Conferences in the United States, and ILMUNC hosts around 3,000 delegates each year. ILMUNC is recognized and linked by the UN itself on the "Model UN Headquarters" portion of its site. ILMUNC attracts delegations from all over the world, and is known for its outreach to many international schools. ILMUNC is also well known for its Franklin Legacy program, through which delegates and staff give back to the global community. The most recent session of ILMUNC was the 29th session. It took place from January 24, 2013 to January 28, 2013 at the Sheraton Downtown Hotel in Philadelphia, PA where over 3000 students were in attendance.

Secretariat
ILMUNC is organized by a 14-member Secretariat, consisting of the Upper Secretariat (Secretary-General, Director-General, Chief of Operations, and Chief of Staff), and the Under-Secretaries-General (USGs).

Upper Secretariat The Upper Secretariat is responsible for all conference planning, strategy, outreach, and logistics.

USGs The USGs are mostly concerned with substantive aspects of the conference, with at least one USG in charge of each Committee Organ. ILMUNC also retains three USGs for Operations charged with creating and managing various on- and off-site logistical systems for the conference.

ASGs There are about 20 Assistant Secretaries-General at ILMUNC, chosen each fall, who are responsible for sponsorship, logistical operations, substantive support, and more.

Staff
ILMUNC is staffed by 200-300 Penn students, who are members of the University's International Affairs Association. The conference is organized by a 14-member Secretariat, who spend each year leading up to the conference working on its plans, as well as 18-20 Assistant Secretaries-General, who are chosen each fall to join the Secretariat in the final planning stages.

Moderators, Chairs, and Crisis Directors
Penn students serve as the Moderators, in charge of maintaining decorum and the flow of debate in larger committees; Chairs, responsible for moderating debate in smaller committees as well as serving as experts on the substantive content of the committee; and Crisis Directors, who plan and execute the behind-the-scenes activities occurring within ILMUNC's Crisis Simulations.

In addition to these roles, Penn students also serve as Vice Chairs, Assistant Chairs, Assistant Crisis Directors, and Crisis Analysts to ensure that each committee runs smoothly and has enough support staff to keep debate flowing and delegates engaged.

ILMUNC Committees
ILMUNC is regarded as having some of the strongest committees on the high school model UN circuit. There are a variety of committee types, each presenting engaging discussion on important international issues. An extensive description of each committee can be found on the conference's website.

General Assembly
The General Assembly committees at ILMUNC are the largest committees the conference offers. The General Assembly is the largest organ of the United Nations, with a representative from every UN member state and observer nations. Committees include the Disarmament and International Security Committee, the Social and Humanitarian Committee, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, and the Legal Committee. Delegates work together to form blocs, write, negotiate, and vote on resolutions.

Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council committees at ILMUNC are slightly smaller than those of the General Assembly. They debate more specific issues, such as the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development, and issues affecting a particular area of the world, such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America.

Specialized Agencies and Regional Bodies
The Specialized Agencies and Regional Bodies at ILMUNC give delegates a unique experience in that they are so structurally different from the rest of the conference's committees. This year's Regional Body will be the Organization of American States. ILMUNC will also feature more innovative committees like the International Labour Organization, which will challenge delegates to deliberate cases problems faced by the ILO. For the more traditional bodies of the United Nations Specialized Agencies this year, ILMUNC will offer the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Crisis Simulations
ILMUNC has always been recognized as one of the most innovative conferences on the high school circuit with regard to Crisis Simulations. The conference offers 8 crisis committees, allowing a high proportion of delegates the opportunity to debate in a fast-paced environment outside of the traditional United Nations forum. This year is headlined by historical committees, including the Iranian Revolution, Franklin D. Roosevelt's Brain Trust, and a challenging joint crisis committee set in Israel, Israel vs. Hezbollah. Two of ILMUNC's staple committees, the United Nations Security Council and the ad-Hoc Committee of the Secretary-General, will be offered again this year, giving experienced delegates the opportunity to debate the most pressing issues of today in an intense crisis environment.

The ILMUNC Scholarship
ILMUNC began its scholarship program last year, aiming to help schools that might otherwise be prohibited due to economic difficulties to attend the conference. Schools must complete an online application form, specifying the details of their delegation, school, etc. and answering questions to assess their eligibility.

Activities Beyond Debate
In addition to six engaging committee sessions, ILMUNC is also well known for the activities it offers outside of committee. In keeping with the Model UN tradition of introducing high school students to college life, delegates are encouraged to attend campus tours, information sessions, and classes on the University of Pennsylvania's campus on the Friday morning of conference. After Friday evening's committee session, ILMUNC hosts Delegate Fest, a fun activity for conference attendees that varies from year to year, usually including documentary-screenings, live bands, and student-run performing arts and a cappella groups from Penn. On Saturday night, ILMUNC's famous Delegate Dance, features a DJ, state-of-the-art lighting and equipment, and refreshments to give delegates a chance to relax after a full day of debate. With all of these social activities offered in addition to intense debate, ILMUNC is regarded as one of the most respectable and enjoyable conferences on the high school circuit.

Franklin Legacy Program-Commitment to Charity
ILMUNC has a long-standing commitment to supporting charitable organizations that deal with pressing issues in the local, regional, and global community. This commitment is exemplified through the ILMUNC Franklin Legacy Program, which encourages delegates and staff to donate money to and raise awareness about an issue chosen by the ILMUNC Secretariat each year. In the past, the Franklin Legacy Program has assisted organizations such as CarbonFund.org, Philabundance, Invisible Children, and, most recently, Cartooning for Peace.

Philadelphia
ILMUNC takes full advantage of its geographic location in planning its conference and activities for delegates. The conference is held in the heart of Philadelphia, at the Sheraton City Center Hotel. Philadelphia is home to an abundance of historic sites, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. There are a number of museums as well, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Franklin Institute, the National Constitution Center, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and the city's newest, the National Museum of American Jewish History.

ILMUNC is hosted by the University of Pennsylvania. High school students are offered the opportunity to tour the University, listen to panel discussions on life as a Penn student, and interact with conference staff, Penn students themselves, to gain a more in-depth perspective on college life.