Austin High’s Model United Nations (Model UN) department has successfully hosted AUSMUN 2025. The annual Model UN conference, which takes place at Austin High School, brought more than 600 students from across the state to discuss various issues as delegates. However, this year, AUSMUN was joined by new and additional schools not previously attending the debate. Delegates are excited to see what these brand new perspectives will bring, and how they might shape the conference.
AUSMUN is typically the first student-run Model UN conference of the new school year. This one day conference experience brings veteran debaters from across the state, while hosting delegates new to Model UN, excited to participate. So what keeps these delegates coming back? AUSMUN often hosts conferences with really fun debates. This year the conference featured 21 simulated rooms with delegates fighting for a resolution to all sorts of issues. Topics being discussed included antibiotic resistance in children, the Nicargauan Revolution, or even potential communist spies within our government. AUSMUN also featured guest speaker Tanya Voss, a clinical professor and assistant dean for global engagement at the University of Texas. Her engaging speech kicked off the conference, and reminded delegates why they host and attended these important conversations.
AUSMUN has been the culmination of many months of work for the program. Typically, preparation begins following FreshMUN, the simulation hosted by the program to introduce freshmen to Model UN while testing papers and ideas for AUSMUN. Students get to work crafting background guides, finding chairs for the debate, publishing media about the event, and registering schools. With the end of AUSMUN season, the department is shifting their focus to the FreshMUN board. Students are putting their names in the hat in hopes of being selected as an undersecretary for the event, and preparing and instructing the next generation of Austin High Model UN in their freshmen classes this January. This unique opportunity allows all advanced English level students the chance to see this world of debate in a class typically barred for sophomore students and above.
Prospective students look forward to the next AUSMUN season, with a new round of interviews to select the next undersecretaries. The department will choose a new undersecretary of Policy, Crisis, Delegate Development, Chair Development, Registration, Logistics, Fundraising, Outreach, Auxiliary Operations, Media, and most importantly, Secretary General. This involves multiple interviews and applications. It also facilitates a ceremonial passing of the torch, where undersecretaries teach the new leadership how to effectively complete their role.
The Model UN department is ecstatic with this year’s success. They are looking forward to another successful year with a new team after January!
