By Bel Dodd | October 4, 2020

As you’ve probably heard by now, this year’s MUNSA conference will be online. While an online conference provides a lot of new opportunities, it also introduces a lot of change to our preparation for the conference. I interviewed MUNSA XXV’s Secretariat to find out how they’re preparing for our first-ever online conference.

How has your job changed since we’ve transitioned to an online conference?

Maya Cantu: Part of my job is to ensure that all members are supported in their tasks. This has challenged me to use different online resources to stay connected and updated with the work my team is doing virtually.

Aspen Harrison: The biggest way my job as Director-General has changed is having to prepare the Chairs for the conference virtually while also having to work past the potential challenges that a virtual debate would have.

Audrey Michel: I’ve transitioned into teaching the co-chairs through zoom and utilizing other online enrichment resources.

Diego Escobedo: Coming into this year I thought I was going to be part of AUX and I was changed to the DG position. This means that we will be teaching the co chairs how to run an online conference. I think we've been making the best out of the online classes, but I do think the in person teaching would be much more engaging and enjoyable.

Luke Martin: Since we've transitioned to an online conference, my job has become more focused on making sure that we have a really strong staff team this year. Because of our online format, it is more crucial than ever that we are prepared for possible issues that could potentially derail the conference.

Maya Mackey: As External Affairs, I get to do a lot of fun stuff with my job now that we are online, but there are also a lot of things that stay the same. Reworking the finances and communicating with sponsors, as well as developing the country lists and matrices happen each year, but with an online conference that opens up new possibilities to work with the country list to ensure that more countries receive representation. My job also involves a lot more sponsor communication now because what we are doing is relatively new territory and our external delegations have lots of questions for us.

Cristian Benavidez: Since we started transitioning to an online conference my responsibilities haven’t changed but the way I execute them have. The delegate development class for the sophomores will be digital and because of the way their schedule works I will have to figure out how to work with longer Tuesday/Thursday classes and shorter m/w/f classes. I’ve also revamped our MUN team and will be bringing some members to compete in the upcoming AUSMUN conference.

Bel Dodd: Media outreach and promotion for the conference is perhaps more important now than ever before, so I’ve really been working on ways to promote the conference in a way that inspires and encourages people to register. Also, the way the Freshman are used for the conference will definitely be different than years prior.

Ezra Harris: Because this is now an online conference, as USG of IT, I’m responsible for making the conference space and deciding which platform we’re going with. In many ways, though my job has not changed. I still work to solve technical issues, only on a larger scale now.

Axel Wilson: Not a whole lot has changed! I just have to think more about shipping and packaging than usual.

What is something that excites you about having an online conference?

Maya Cantu: I am excited about this online conference because where previous years follow a similar planning format for the Trinity conference, we are trailblazers in the virtual format. Therefore, we are able to completely design the conference from scratch in our unique vision.

Aspen Harrison: I am so excited to welcome delegates from different areas of the country! We are also in a position to invite more delegates from more socio-economic backgrounds and it will enrich debate drastically.

Audrey Michel: I’m excited about a more diverse group of delegates participating.

Diego Escobedo: With the conference being online we'll be able to reach out to many many more delegates this year with no cost for transportation or housing. I hope we can get some people that were apprehensive to go prior, but are given the chance now that the conference is online.

Luke Martin: I'm excited about the new opportunities that are available to us with an online MUNSA. Due to its increased accessibility, we can now include delegates and guest speakers from all over, and this year's MUNSA will likely see a larger turnout than many past conferences.

Maya Mackey: I'm really excited about an online conference because it will allow a lot more schools to attend and our pricing this year has become more accessible on account of not having to pay various fees associated with an in-person conference. I think that it's an important step to making our conference more equitable. Another thing that I'm pumped for is getting to reevaluate and adapt the way that MUNSA crisis committees work on an online platform.

Cristian Benavidez: I’m excited about how we'll incorporate new aspects to the conference through new staff jobs, and also how we’ll be able to have a more diverse conference for delegates to attend with new perspectives due to

Bel Dodd: I’ve had a lot of new ideas that could go along with my job that I don’t think I would've thought about if we hadn't gone online. I’m working on a series of promotional videos that I think will definitely help people become more excited for MUNSA and better understand the role of being on Secretariat. We’ve never before had a behind the scenes look of putting this conference together.

Ezra Harris: I’m excited about the possibility of being able to do more than we would normally due to physical logistics. An example is having keynote speakers at our conference that we perhaps normally wouldn’t be able to host.

Axel Wilson: First online MUNSA conference ever!! It's also exciting to work together and figure out how we'll end up doing the award ceremonies and all that.

What is something that you’re mourning now that we have an online conference?

Maya Cantu: I am sad I won’t have the opportunity to hand delegates their awards in person because that was always a powerful moment, however, we are working hard to ensure that the conference maintains the same emotional connection to delegates as prior.

Aspen Harrison: I'm really sad for the returning chairs. They had the opportunity to chair and see live debate at MUNSA XXIV, and I know most of them wish they got the same experience.

Audrey Michel: It sounds silly, but I really wanted my parents to see me on stage during the opening and closing ceremonies (and of course walking around the Trinity campus and the Mabee cookies).

Diego Escobedo: The delegate dance was always an enjoyable time after the first day of the conference, so I am sad to not be able to have it this year. Meeting other delegates and hearing what they have to say about the conference is always fun as well, and I don't think it will be quite the same making small talk over zoom.

Luke Martin: Despite these benefits, I do wish that we would have been able to implement them alongside, rather than in place of, our regular MUNSA conference.

Maya Mackey: I was looking forward to the delicious food at Mabee Dining Hall! In all seriousness though, I think that I'm a bit disappointed that we don't get to do our traditional MUNSA fundraisers. But I also think that the new ways of fundraising that we are working on are super cool! Overall, I think that going online has really forced us to consider how we can best expand our organization and move forward.

Cristian Benavidez: Something that I wish we were still going to have during our conference is the trinity cookies, and more importantly the in person friendships that are built over the span of the conference.

Bel Dodd: Nothing beats human interaction. I had a lot of plans and ideas about how I was going to teach the Freshman to have a more journalistic role at the conference. The world of journalism has changed tremendously since March, but I still hope to have the Freshman more engaged in the conference this year despite our circumstances.

Ezra Harris: I’m a bit sad that now we won’t be able to be on Trinity Campus, since I really enjoy being all together there in the auditorium.

Axel Wilson: I really enjoy the MUNSA delegate dance, and we will still have something similar; it just won't be the same.

Is there anything that involves your job now that you hope to change or add for the next person who has your position?

Maya Cantu: I hope that the future Secretary-General works to the best of their ability to maintain the professionalism of the conference while keeping in mind that equal access to the MUN experience is something that we should constantly be striving for.

Aspen Harrison: For the next Director-General, I would encourage more communication between co-chairs with committee members. I feel that the Chair class could be more of a community, even in a virtual setting.

Audrey Michel: Currently, I am standardizing an official crisis curriculum for the future Secretariat members.

Diego Escobedo: I really don't know how the position is going to look after us. I hope with my entire heart that they will be teaching in person next year, but I think they will be able to use some of the same changes that we were able to make for the online class in person.

Luke Martin: Moving into the future, I hope to provide my successors with the experience I have gained while I have been the MUNSA Event Coordinator during a global pandemic. I also hope to build upon the tasks that quarantine and social distancing have forced me to focus on, because one major benefit to our predicament is that it provides me the chance to add depth and nuance to many old tasks.

Maya Mackey: I would love for External Affairs to take a more active role in promoting conference accessibility and economic equity. EA is also in charge of what committees go in what room, which provides whoever holds the position next a great platform to combat some of the euro-centrism that can often occur in MUN.

Crisitan Benavidez: Something I want to change about my job is that I want my predecessor to have more materials when it comes to teaching other delegates that I’m hoping to provide. I also want them to be able to do more with the MUN team when they go back to school and make it a bigger part of ISA.

Bel Dodd: I really hope that the next person who takes over as Media Manager takes over ISA Post and uses it as another platform. I also want them to be creative with their position. Part of the fun about being on Secretariat is making your job your own and I hope the next person takes something they are passionate about and applies it to their job as well.

Ezra Harris: Because their responsibilities will be different this year, I hope to restructure the tech team.

Axel Wilson: I only hope to leave things organized with more numbers etc for the next person for my job!

Other than the fact that this conference is online, how do you want MUNSA XXV to stand out compared to past conferences?

Maya Cantu: It's exciting to serve as Secretary-General during the 25th anniversary of MUNSA; coming up with exciting and fun ways to honor the history and future of our conference.

Aspen Harrison: I want MUNSA XXV to stand out as a conference that works past global adversity and is a front runner in making the MUN community more equitable. I feel that we are in a time of great change and evolution that we should continue the trend for our conference.

Audrey Michel: I want to make sure MUNSA XXV is the most equitable and diverse conference yet.

Diego Escobedo: It's the 25th MUNSA! No matter what I think we will have been refining the process and working on making the best conference that we could possibly. We will have the most delegates as possible and give one of the best Model United Nations experiences possible.

Luke Martin: It is my goal that MUNSA XXV will set a precedent for future MUNSA conferences. I hope that it is looked back upon as a departure from tradition and a catalyst for the exponential growth of new ideas for what MUNSA can really be.

Maya Mackey: This is the quarter centennial conference, so I definitely think our conference will be a celebration of MUNSA and the values that it stands for. I'm really excited about some of the new possibilities that have been opened up to us, and if anyone wants to know more about the cool things we'll be doing they'll have to come to our conference!

Cristian Benavidez: I want MUNSA XXV to hold the respect of every other MUNSA conference while also showing others that success can happen and compromise can occur even during a pandemic or real life crisis. I also want it to inspire our press corps, delegate, and chairs to continue with MUNSA the same way it did for me even though it might not be as real for them.

Bel Dodd: If this year has taught us anything it’s that we all need to step foot into more diverse spaces, and not just by face. Model United Nations opens so many opportunities for kids, but it really is only made available to people who are middle class and upper middle class. I hope that MUNSA XXV leads the path for more equitable conferences for years to come.

Ezra Harris: I want to have more keynotes, be able to be prepared for more delegates, and to have the smoothest running MUNSA ever.

Axel Wilson: Lots of delegates can come from all over since they don't have to physically come.