This Saturday, October 3rd, the first annual GU-GW Model UN Conference took place at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs. Designed as a somewhat larger and more competitive opportunity for new delegates to gain experience, this conference also provided an opportunity for new Georgetown delegates to get to know George Washington competitors who will inevitably be with us at various conferences later in the year.

Unlike AGMUNC, where competitors were divided into three small committees based on size, all Georgetown and George Washington delegates were assigned to a single committee: Disarmament and International Security. Specifically, after a few minutes of speeches, the trade of small arms and light weaponry emerged as the chosen issue. Substantive debate focused on potential regulation of both the legal and illegal trade of small arms and light weaponry, along with the efficiency and effectiveness of various policy recommendations. Of particular controversy was the idea of an international gun registry database, an ambitious idea aimed at tracking legal gun purchases that was challenged as being unrealistic and placing excessive burden on low-resource countries by a variety of delegations.

Four resolutions were eventually presented as the day neared its end. One was sponsored by a bloc of mostly African nations, particularly Sudan; one was led by the United States, United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia; one by a number of South American nations; and one by Venezuela, Russia, Israel, and Australia. In the end, none of these resolutions were passed, though the manner in which this occurred was a truly strange one. Both the US/UK/Saudi resolution and the Venezuela/Russia/Israel/Australia resolution ended in a tie: one at 24-24 and one at 23-23 (with abstentions filling the remaining slots). Since a simple majority is required for a resolution to pass, both of these resolutions came as close as technically possible to passage while still managing to fail.

Nevertheless, despite the lack of new legislation put into effect, the high caliber of debate exhibited will inevitably be beneficial for both schools’ delegates as valuable experience. With the training conferences under their belts, new delegates are – hopefully – feeling more prepared to tackle full blown conferences in the coming months.

- Michael Lopesciolo

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