Reflecting on SPMUN 2023

From Nov. 24 to 26, the ummah Mentoniya traveled to Reims to participate in SPMUN, encapsulating two days of intellectual collaboration unfolding under the Model United Nations (MUN) banner. The theme of this year, "Embracing Transformation: A juncture for a better future," served as the backdrop for impassioned debates and visionary dialogues. Throughout the summer, the RIMUN and MEDMUN teams collaborated tirelessly for months, striving to make the 3rd edition of SPMUN 2023 a memorable experience. In total, the event gathered 220 students from all seven Sciences Po Paris campuses.

Thus, a journey began for 46 students from the Menton campus of Sciences Po Paris as we embarked on an excursion of both distance and in the realms of diplomacy and discourse. This journey commenced early for us, but it was worth it. At 5 a.m., we gathered in Bastion at the crack of dawn and bid farewell to the sun-kissed shores of Menton, braving a grueling fifteen-hour bus ride, all for a rendezvous in the regal city of Reims, where history whispers through the stones of its majestic cathedrals and the spirit of kings still lingers.

Although we missed the welcome cocktail held at 5:30 p.m., we arrived just in time for the opening ceremony. The masters of ceremony, Tarun Ruschmeier and Shereen Abdul Razak from RIMUN, and Crystal Cordell, Reims campus director, welcomed us. We were then introduced to the general theme and the committees by RIMUN and MEDMUN executives, Mara Beteagu, Lisa Poisson, Rebeka Tatham, and Luna Ragozino. Additionally, the incredible guest speaker Hugues Pernet, former French Ambassador to Ukraine, honored us with his presence and delivered a speech. Finally, the opening ceremony concluded with words from Othman Benjelloun (Secretary General of MEDMUN) and Alicia Petrella (President of RIMUN), who officially declared SPMUN 2023 open.

The participants then met up at "Le Saint-Maurice," roughly a rémois equivalent to "Le Rétro," exclusively reserved for the occasion. However, it seemed that the esteemed delegates preferred to spend the evening at Anamour, the local kebab restaurant. Afterwards, the ummah, used to the sunny and warm south, braved the bitter cold in Reims, and made their way to their host's places: students from the Reims campus who had set up their rooms for us to spend the nights in. This opportunity to meet new people became a truly bonding experience.

From Saturday onwards, we delved headfirst into debates, formed alliances, and addressed global issues across eleven committees, catering to all levels of expertise, from beginner to expert, in either French or English. Delegates renegotiated the Kyoto Protocol, debated the introduction of artificial intelligence, addressed security challenges in Libya, and much more.

The highly anticipated moment arrived at the end of the conference's second day: the party. At 10 p.m., future diplomats gathered at Nemes, an Egyptian-themed bar. Despite the absence of Arabic music played by the DJ, who, during the day, had been seen in formal attire as a delegate, we had a fantastic time until 2:30 a.m., showcasing Menton's party spirit to other Sciences Po students.

Of course, true to its vibrant spirit, Menton brought the heat – quite literally – over the weekend. As the ummah Mentonniya ignited the other delegates with their enthusiasm, the frozen halls of Reims found themselves warmed not just by the fervor of discussions but by our fiery passion and amazing chants. Consequently, Menton didn't fail to stand out during snack breaks, lunches, ceremonies, and parties, echoing "Et quand Menton entre dans la salle, c’est tout Sciences Po qui se met au halal,” singing “Sciences Po Menton je t’aime," and dancing in circles to 3 Daqat.

On Sunday, at 2 p.m., as the end drew near, the well-dressed participants headed to the Grand Amphithéâtre for the closing ceremony. A recap video of the weekend was screened, followed by speeches from Sofia Bartolini and Penelope Gelman (MEDMUN crisis co-directors), Rania Moalla (MEDMUN) and Carla Mory (Logistics of RIMUN), and the wonderful speaker Henry Zipper de Fabiani. After the chairs of each committee announced and awarded prizes for “best delegate,” Othman Benjelloun (Secretary General of MEDMUN) and Alicia Petrella (President of RIMUN) gave the final speech, officially closing this edition of SPMUN. 

With suitcases in hand, we boarded the bus where Jean-Jacques and Jean-Louis awaited us to depart Reims and its historic charms. After a 14-hour overnight bus journey, we arrived back in Menton at 6.30 a.m., just in time for some of us with 8 a.m. classes! Yet, it was with fond memories of the incredible time we shared during this weekend, thanks to the hard work of the MUN teams, that we returned home.