In late January and early February of 1998, sixteen esteemed students represented the Gateway Model U.N. in a model U.N. in Chicago.  A total of 1,800 students from over 80 schools representing 105 countries were crammed into the Palmer House Hilton Hotel for the MUNUC (Model U.N. of the University of Chicago) conference.  Here are the stories and accompanying photographs of many of our students.

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Hey! We are just returning from MUNUC X in Chicago and we are glad to have escaped the security Nazis. Committee meetings were long, decorum wasn't held, our committee room was tiny and we had five guys in a bedroom that seemed to only get smaller. Yet, all in all, it was a fun weekend. I represented Bosnia in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and we were able to introduce a common European military and save Albania. Personally, I would like to thank Italy for the Kool-Aid, Spain for the donuts, and especially the delegate from Monaco for a beautiful poem.

Now, just for humor I will share the top 10 MUNUC pickup lines, which, by the way, no one but those at MUNUC will ever understand:

10. I'm sorry I thought your name tag was in Braille!
9. A gavel isn't the only thing that knocks.
8. You can extend my caucus.
7. This resolution isn't the only thing I want to table.
6. Come upstairs and I'll show you what decorum is.
5. Is that a placard in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
4. You can lift my sanctions.
3. I'd like to motion you to the floor.
2.We don't need a chair when we've got a table.
1. Nice placard, let's ****!

Thanks,

Kevin Haskell

a.k.a. Bosnia-Herzegovina (Buttercup)

Hello, my name is Gretchen Haupt, I represented Bosnia-Herzegovina which is quite a mouth full if you ask the moderator of Economic and Financial (Eco-Fin). Anyway, I sat with my friend Katie, the distinguished delegate from Djibouti (yet another tongue twister) and we had a great deal of fun during committee meetings. Although the topics chosen were not the most

interesting, we made the best of it and worked our hardest to pass a resolution to solve the External Debt. When our world-saving techniques were not being implemented, I, along with the delegates from Djibouti, Azerbaijan, and Belize, passed the time by writing Top Ten lists much like the one featured above. On Saturday evening, our group went to the comedy club Second City. The performance was great. I laughed till my sides were sore. My head was sore too, seeing that I laughed so hard I hit my head on the stage. Anyway, after arriving back at the Palmer House Hilton, I, distinguished delegate from Djibouti, and some not-so-distinguished delegates from Azerbaijan attended the Delegate Dance during which the MUNUC security force (a.k.a. the Gestapo) enforced strict rules which included: No Jumping, No running, and basically NO FUN!! We managed to bend that rule a little...hee hee. Sunday, today, we woke up and managed to drag ourselves to our final committee meeting. I don't know about the other committees, but we went through a one hour voting procedure, and I about fell asleep. I had a great time, and intend on going back next year. Katie says the whole thing was like an episode of Melrose Place. She wants to come back too! FLUGEN FLUGEN!

Gretchen Haupt

a.k.a. Bosnia-Herzegovina

Let's see... After a LONG train ride, we arrived in Chicago, and took some cabs to the hotel. Our first sight of the hotel was astonishing. Gilt, faux marble, and plush carpets greeted us, along with a large crowd of students. After being escorted to our rooms, we changed for our first meeting. One word: BOREDOM. The rest of the day was uneventful, but Friday was more fun. Highlights included: the Brazilian page, the delegate representing the United States, our honorable Co-Chair, our wonderful Moderator. Other highlights of Friday: going to the Museum of Science and Industry, the Cheesecake Factory, crowded elevators. Saturday dawned bright and early. After a hurried, and late breakfast, I got to my first session of the day late. Oh well. Highlights of this day included: lunch at Berghoff's, SECOND CITY. Second City was totally fun, we made the comedians use Djibouti as a word to do a skit on, but they had no clue where it was. Hilarious skits ensued. The Delegate Dance followed, but it was hot, and there were too many, well, let's just say "overeager male types" there, and a couple of "overeager" females. Appearances by a few select chairs only livened the controlled fun. Every time a cheer was heard, security was on the scene, making sure there was nothing wrong. Sure, whatever. Actually, the whole thing was a wonderful experience, except for the elevators, which made all the delegates sea sick.

Beth Fortune

aka. The Delegate from Djibouti

Okay, I'm Anne Barnes, the delegate from Bosnia in the General Assembly Plenary Committee with Beth Fortune. After the LONG train ride, and the LONG wait in the lobby of the Palmer House Hilton Hotel, we got our rooms, just long enough to drop off our bags and go to the LONG opening ceremonies. Then to the LONG first committee meeting. Everything was LONG in general. The next morning, after a nice long sleep, we woke up and went out on the town. The Navy Pier did not open until too late, so I went to Water Tower and did some good old-fashioned girl-type shopping with two other delegates and one of our wonderful advisors, Kristy. After lunch, we went back for more long committee meetings to discus the topic of international adoptions, and then a well deserved sleep. Saturday was much more interesting. After the committee meetings (which I would say more about, but I don't want you to sleep as much as I did), Second City added a much needed laugh to the whole group's life. At the dance, later that night, the Gestapo stood around and made sure that we didn't do ANYTHING that might even be remotely fun. That is why we all left early, and just sat around and talked and goofed off in our rooms. Sunday morning we dragged ourselves out of bed and managed to sleep through one more committee meeting. The elevators were crammed all weekend, so much so that if you want to go to the lobby, you had to go up to the 21st floor first. The best thing about the whole weekend was meeting all the new people from all over the country. Everyone brought a different point of view, and that made it interesting.

Anne Barnes

Delegate from Bosnia

Hi my name is Kerrin Torres and I am from the Gateway Model United Nations. I represented the country of Bosnia, and it was so much fun! The first day we got there I was really frustrated mainly because of the long train ride, the people I came with, and then later the hotel room. This was my first M.U.N.U.C. so I didn't expect for it to be great, but it could have been a lot better. I was in the Special, Political, and Desertification committee, as soon as I got to the first session I was like Oh no, I don't want to sit here for like six hours! As time went by, and the pages were in effect, I was happy because I wrote Egypt, South Africa, Iran, and Iceland; and we were having very good debates of our own. We went to the Water Tower, the Cheesecake Factory in the Hancock Building, our favorite eating place, the Ferris Wheel Restaurant, and the most exciting Second City, which is a comedy club. Next time you are in Chicago go there first, I can't believe we went there last. I guess you have to save the best for last!!! I am very happy that my committee passed two resolutions, right now I forget which ones. All I have to say is that I would recommend M.U.N.U.C. to anyone who likes to debate and have a good time!!!

Eileen G'Sell; a. k. a. Eileen G'Smell Good, a. k. a. Bosnia Herzegovina

Pondering on the last four days I am profoundly struck by one single term. Fun. This trip was fun. I said both intelligent and moronic things during session, got hit on by guys I did not know, ate foods from all over Chicago, met a lot of funny people, and learned the term "delegoat." Delegoat is a good word. Our moderator was awesome; we had a paper ball fight during session, and I used the word plethora in over three speeches, and I realized yet again the wonders of Chicago. Go. to. Model UN. Just go.

Hey there. It is Katie Simpson here. OK. here’s how it was. First, five people, one bathroom equals baaaad. I represented Djibouti in Economic and Financial (EcoFin) With Gretchen. Of course there was no end to the jokes about that. For example, "if Djibouti got stuck, would Greece help?". Sessions in EcoFin were long and sometimes the topic was even boring. But aside from that I enjoyed the time. We even met up with some guys from Azerbaijan and Belize when they sent us the Top Ten MUNUC Related Late Night Cable movies. Then later we came back with Top Ten MUNUC Pickup Lines. That’s how it went for awhile. On Friday morning sessions didn’t start until one so we split up after breakfast at The Ferris Wheel Restaurant. I went to the Art Institute and really enjoyed myself. We also went shopping at museum stores. Then we all ate at the Cheesecake Factory. Then Friday was pretty much the same. We motioned for the moderator to cloth her Kermit doll’s nakedness. Tuban dud made Kermit’s cape into a diaper. Later that night Gretchen and I went to dinner at Bub City where we beat the meat out of poor defenseless dead crabs with a big stick. At that night’s session we finally started getting some good working papers and then early resolutions for the issue of external debt crisis. The next day, Saturday, was spent debating the new stuff. At dinner we got deep dish pizza and then went to Second City Comedy Club. It was hilarious. I liked the Clinton, maid and improv. Every time the comedians wanted the audience to yell out something, we all yelled Djibouti. When we got back I went to the Delegate dance were stuff happened. As Mike from Azerbaijan would say, "kinky!" The security Gestapo was everywhere. They came to our door several times. Each time we kicked Gretchen to get up and get the door. Sunday, today, we were soooo tired. I was dead. I kept writing via the pages to Israel and Oman. One of the Israeli delegates had a queer fetish for turbans, i.e. the turban dude how helped moderate. I drew pictures of them together. Then a rep from MUNUC came and told us how someone stole the huge MUNUC banner. Everyone laughed. The people were caught on camera and asked to return it no questions asked. But I doubt they did. At last, I finally spoke in the last session. We then said good bye after finally passing one resolution after an hour of voting because some stupid delegate asked for roll call vote. I missed closing ceremonies to eat candy with Mary and Judy. Now I’m on the train home, only my second trip on a train counting the way there. Few last things: Kevin is buttercup, everyone who came for their first time (including boys) got some fingernails painted silver, and hi to the guys, you know who you are! Flugan, flugan!!s

Rachel and Erin are the goddesses of WHO, Gloria Jean’s, and sailors. We love Chicago and MUN. We liked our debate, loved our chair (and his little games--especially "why was Mr. Dwarkanath late?"), and could have done without some of the bumping and grinding at the delegate dance (although it looked like Kevin had fun!). Rachel took the whole Djibouti at blackjack on the train, though Mike, Midori, and Erin all put up a good fight. As mighty, mighty seniors, we will miss MUN next year. We love Gateway and Arthur (and Khanh--well, one of us, at least). Thanks for everything! E & R

All I can say is "Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake Djibouti" Rebekah