The Society hosts a range of Events throughout the University Calendar including several distinguished speakers nights, MiniMuns, Joint Muns and casual Drinks nights at the beginning of semester to help ease the transition (back) into University. Below are brief summaries of each event as well as the caliber of speakers we had in 2011.
Welcome Back Drinks
The traditional “Welcome Back to Semester Drinks” heralds in the new term in style as Doc rounds up members new and old and able to socialise, relax, and/or have a heated debate on the state of the Middle-East (not advisable, but if you must, don’t resort to violence). This will be the first Event of the year and will be held on Tuesday 6th March (Week 1). Come to the Isabelle Fidler Room located on Level 2 of the infamous Manning Bar (not to brag, but Leo’s favourite Bar apparently).
MiniMuns
A MiniMUN is a mini Model UN session held throughout the semester. It is a great way for new MUN-ers to introduce themselves into the world of Model United Nations.
The biggest difference between a MiniMUN and a regular Model UN session is that instead of having to come up with draft resolutions and working papers, a draft resolution is prepared by the UN Society executive before the session. During the session, the focus will be on introducing amendments and passing the resolution.
As the semester starts, this page and our facebook page will be updated to tell you where and when our MiniMUNs take place.
Meanwhile, go here to learn how Model UN works.
JointMUNs
JointMUN is an initiative by the Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales and the University of Newcastle to hold a joint-mini MUN session between the four universities.
JointMUN will be taking place this Thursday (May 12th) in Sydney Law School, on the topic of the future of nuclear power.
Click here to download a copy of the draft resolution and briefing paper! For now, join the Facebook event here.
Transportation Guide
Though the closest train station is Redfern station, due to security concerns it is advised that you take a train to Central station then take a bus from there.
Coming from Central station -
- Go to Railway Square Stand D and take any of these buses: 422, 423, 428 or M30;
- Get off at the Sydney Uni stop;
- Cross City Road and walk along Eastern Avenue, the Law School Building is on your right, or follow this map:
Speaker Events
From time to time, the UN Society invites guest speakers to deliver speeches on the latest development on the United Nations or on international politics. The details of the next Speaker Event will be confirmed closer to the date, but till then, you are welcome to read about the speakers who participated in our event last year:
In 2011, the following speakers participated in a stimulating event discussing the difficulties the doctrine of ‘The Responsibility to Protect’. This turned out to be an extremely timely event as it occurred not long after the UN Security Council endorsed the doctrine, for the first time, explicitly in Resolution 1973, (retrospectively) recognising the ‘No-Fly’ Zone over Libya and authorising “all necessary measures” to protect civilians. Scintillating Stuff!
Ashley Townshend (The Lowy Institute)
Ashley Townshend is the Program Associate for International Security at the Lowy Institute for International Policy. Previously he was a Senior Tutor and ARC Research Supervisor in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney, and a Research Associate for Pacific Friends of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. His current research focuses on Sino-Indian strategic competition in the Indian Ocean region and an ongoing project on the causes of state failure.
Ashley has a University Medal and first class Honours degree in international relations from the University of Sydney, and a Diploma with Distinction from Sciences Po, Paris.
Christopher Michaelson (Australian Human Rights Centre)
Dr Christopher Michaelsen is a Senior Research Fellow at the UNSW Law Faculty. He teaches and specialises in public international law, human rights and international security. Prior to joining UNSW, he served as a Human Rights Officer (Anti-Terrorism) at the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Warsaw, Poland. He has previously worked for the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs in New York City, and at the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre of the Australian National University in Canberra. He has served as a consultant for the Asian Law Group in Semarang, Indonesia, and for the Center for Global Counter-Terrorism Cooperation in New York City. Chris is a member of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law and a member of the Australian Human Rights Centre
Annie Herro (Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies)
Annie Herro is a PhD candidate and part-time lecturer at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. Her PhD examines the development of a global policy idea – using the case of the United Nations Emergency Peace Service – across cultural and political differences. Before joining CPACS, she worked as consultant in the Global Policy Section of UNICEF in New York. Annie has also worked on human rights-related projects for local and international NGOs in Sydney, New York and Madras. She holds Masters Degrees in human rights from Columbia University and peace and conflict studies from the University of Sydney.