The University of Chicago Model United Nations team took first place in February at the Harvard National Model United Nations competition, and 23 out of 28 delegates won individual awards.
Harvard's event is "the biggest and most competitive Model UN Conference in the world,'' according to team president and Chicago fourth-year Blake Rachowin. "I feel extraordinarily proud of everyone who participated." Sixty-one percent of UChicago's team was first and second-year students, making the victory all the more impressive, he added.
Model United Nations is one of the most popular forms of organized debate in the world. The program allows college students to play the role of delegates from countries in the United Nations, as well as members of other political organizations.
The Harvard conference, held from Thursday, Feb. 11 to Sunday, Feb. 14, in Boston, brought together more than 3,000 students and faculty members from colleges and universities all over the world.
The majority of UChicago's delegates represented the People's Republic of China, something Rachowin noted can be particularly challenging, and enjoyable. With about six weeks to prepare, delegates researched the country's positions on issues such as human rights, women's issues, development and terrorism.
"China can be seen as a negative influence on international cooperation," he said. "As the People's Republic of China, our delegates were responsible for defending some less conventional international policies."
The following are the results from the Harvard competition:
BEST DELEGATION:
Rohan Sandhu, People's Republic of China, the World Conference on Women
Nathan Chan, People's Republic of China, World Bank
Disha Malik and Clementina Dioguardi-Lopez, People's Republic of China, UN Commission for Social Development
Blake Rachowin, Bhakt Khan, Joint Cabinet Crisis: Indian Rebellion of 1857: Indian Rebels
OUTSTANDING DELEGATION:
Mark Mahvi & Molly Cunningham, People's Republic of China, Legal Committee
Frances Low & Parvathy Murukurthy, People's Republic of China, UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development
Ajeet Singh, People's Republic of China, UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Kate Berner, People's Republic of China, ASEAN Regional Forum
Ben Smithgall, Republic of China, Historical Security Council 1950
Sean Mirski, People's Republic of China, Future Security Council 2028
Nicolas Duque, Secretaria de la Gobernaci'on, Junta Extraordinaria del Gabinete Mexicano
HONORABLE MENTION:
Chris Benedik and Batoul Ibrahim, People's Republic of China, DISEC
Aynur Taskan and Niharika Singh, People's Republic of China, SOCHUM
Anish Bhatnagar, People's Republic of China, Historical General Assembly 1994
Mrinalini Penumaka, People's Republic of China, UN Development Programme
Isra Shah and Andrew O'Shaughnessy, People's Republic of China, Security Council
Race Wright, the Home Secretary, Joint Cabinet Crisis: Indian Rebellion of 1857: British Cabinet