Senior Ryan Peene’s hips surely don’t lie.
“Ryan Peene danced with a belly-dancer,” senior Model United Nations president Tatum Lindquist said. “Just one of the highlights of this year’s PACMUN.”
For an adventure-filled weekend, Liberty’s MUN delegation traveled to Seattle to attend the Pacific Northwest MUN Conference (PACMUN) from November 10 to 11. Over the course of these two days, Liberty students were given the task to represent countries and debate in global issue-centered committees.
Senior MUN treasurer Karinn Sytsma represented the Netherlands in the International Bioethics Committee, negotiating on the ethicality of genetic modification and artificial intelligence in medicine. Alongside her in this committee was senior Alex Diamond, and both are seasoned veterans of MUN conferences.
“Alex and I prepared together because we were in the same committee, and our countries were allies in the European Union,” Sytsma said. “It was so much fun to have a friend in my committee, so we could team up to make the best resolutions.”
Junior first-time attendee Daniel Noble, representing the country of Cape Verde, shared this similar sentiment, while also learning about the importance of debate preparation.
“I saw the Ethiopia delegate walk in with a four-inch binder of information, and some kids did not participate at all,” Noble said. “I decided to make the most of the trip and fully immerse myself in the conference, along with the other delegates from our school.”
In and out of the conference, the sixteen Liberty delegates spent their days together, winning awards (sophomore Sebastian Melgoza was recognized as an Honorable Mention in the General Assembly committee), negotiating as delegates, and sharing meals and laughs after long days of debate, dancing included.
“PACMUN was an awesome opportunity for our delegation,” Lindquist said. “I hope to see Liberty MUN grow throughout this year, and for many more to come.”