From the Office of the Secretary-General

Dear Delegates, Faculty, and Distinguished Guests:

It is our distinct pleasure to welcome you to the nineteenth annual Chicago International Model United Nations (CIMUN), held February 2nd – 5th, 2023. We are excited to announce that we will be in person! (Please knock on wood while reading this, just to be safe).

As one of the nation’s largest independent conferences, CIMUN is staffed by a diverse and talented team of students, post-graduates, and professionals from over 50 colleges and universities, selected through a highly-competitive application process. Close to 80% of our staff are returning delegates from previous CIMUN conferences, and we urge all those who are interested in joining our team to apply at the link on our website. CIMUN also offers one of the lowest staff-to-delegate ratios of any major conference, with one staff member for every seven delegates!

It is easier to argue for the way things should be, rather than how they actually are. Every day, the world becomes a more divisive and tougher place to call home. We struggle to understand why people take the actions they do, and how people react to those actions. We often find ourselves feeling helpless, powerless, faithless. CIMUN challenges delegates to recognize those emotions, assume these roles of power, and portray them in a productive and realistic manner.

Without having the capacity to understand the problems we face, it is impossible to solve them. Leaders across the globe are met with difficult and multifaceted issues daily, and we will urge all delegates to explore every side of the issues as they progress through our crisis simulations. By thinking on your feet and collaborating with neighboring committees, the result is an unconventional conference that immerses students in a global context, and makes CIMUN a truly one-of-a-kind Model UN experience.

CIMUN XIX will offer 20 unique committees and cabinets, most with 40 delegates or less. The historical year of 1982 will immerse delegates in a scenario that requires innovation and originality, as decisions they will make can alter geographical and political power for generations to come. CIMUN implements delegate’s decisions in real-time, allowing them to see the impact of their actions, and requiring them to think critically beyond the bounds of any one topic to best represent their national interests.

I could not be more excited to welcome you in person in 2023!

Sincerely,
Daniel Benson
Secretary-General, CIMUN XIX