Over the past two weeks, I had the wonderful experience meeting, and conducting an interview with the leaders of TSOMUN (Tri-State Organization Model United Nations). Their secretariat is comprised of four intelligent, well-informed, and determined delegates: Rohan Arora (a MUNI alumnus), Rahul Kanani, Rishi Mehta, and Neel Sathi. These four gentlemen each are an important part to the structure of TSOMUN’s secretariat. Rohan is the USG (Under Secretary General) for Crisis committees. Rahul is the USG for Specialized and Psuedo Crisis committees. Rishi is the USG for General Assemblies committees. Last but not least, Neel is the Secretary General and Founder of TSOMUN.
Rahul
Miles: For starters where is Tri-State Organization Model United Nations held? And how big is your delegation?
Neel: Tri-State Organization Model United Nations is based out of Edison, New Jersey. We are currently partnered with multiple schools within the state. We have also partnered with multiple schools within the state, and a school located out of the tri-state area. As of this moment, we are sixty delegates strong and counting.
Neel: We have one middle school, and three high schools currently partnered with TSOMUN.
Rahul: In addition, we have various individual delegates in partnership with TSOMUN from various different schools throughout the tri-state.
Neel
Miles: For how long do you guys train your delegation and how do you organize it so you can effectively carry out meetings?
Neel: Delegates within TSOMUN are free to view and review the content we provide through our podcasts and webinars at their own leisure, which prevents the inhibiting factor of time needed to train delegates on each individual aspect of Model UN. Each delegate learns at their own pace here at TSOMUN, and there are no restrictions imposed on what content they can learn about. The delegation convenes both locally and online by hosting both local and online meetings, as well as mock simulations.
Rishi: Precisely. And it is these mock simulations that officially started TSOMUN and led to its success.
Rahul: In fact, the initial purpose of TSOMUN was to help empower delegates who are unable to compete at prestigious national conferences, due to the lack of opportunities offered to smaller Model UN clubs and programs.
Rishi
Miles: Now I want to get to you individually: what personally do you want delegates to learn from MUN?
Rishi: Miles, in the time that I have been doing this, I have seen introverts turn into orators. I want to discover and trophy the unique skill set(s) that people didn’t know they had, as well as show them it is not how much you speak, but what you say. Oration is an art that few acknowledge and understand, but I want to change that, and if we can win in the process, that is just an extra treat.
Neel: I am an ardent believer in Model UN’s ability to fine-tune delegates’ ability to be calm. To learn how to remain composed and confident when speaking in front of hordes of people is an essential ability in today’s world, as it is a fundamental skill-set to have in a myriad of professions.
Rohan: Personally, I want to instill the trait of adaptability in our delegates. Adaptability is a skill that benefits everyone, and I think that MUN is the best way to develop this skill before these delegates are exposed to the real world. MUN is a place for growth, and nothing pleases me more than seeing a delegate who I have trained from day one develop that skill over time.
Miles: What is your favorite part of Model UN?
Rohan: Our favorite part of MUN is the social aspect of it. We all love meeting new people, and expanding our delegation’s network. Model UN provides an environment that is conducive to meeting many new people from all around the world.
Rahul: Furthermore, we appreciate the opportunity that Model UN provides to expand delegate’s social networks to new horizons. We see Model UN not only as a place for us to put our hearts into debate, but also we see Model UN more like an avenue to expand one’s ability to socialize.
Miles: Now here’s the big question: What do you want the Best Delegate/ other MUN communities to know about your delegation and how do you want to promote yourselves?
Rishi: We want to be considered an organization that not only is known for its ability to strive for success, but for its passion. We are not trained in winning, but in solving problems. In speaking with substance. In doing our best. This is what we want to be known for, our passion, and, as our logo depicts, we want to be heard louder than the roar of a lion.
Rohan, MUNI Alumnus
Neel: Since the establishment of TSOMUN, our fundamental focus has been to empower the disenfranchised delegates who have worked so hard to compete on the Model UN circuit. I have personally encountered delegates from small or poorly funded Model UN programs, and have always wondered as to what I could do for them. As a result, I established the Tri-State Organization Model United Nations, and sought the help of like-minded individuals like Rishi, Rohan, and Rahul to assist me in my efforts to give delegates from all around the nation the chance to compete in prestigious collegiate conferences. We as a collective have spent numerous hours reaching out to schools and delegates from all around the country to help delegates participate in Model UN.
Rohan: As a delegation, we strive everyday to reach out to all delegates, irrespective of both social and financial status. We hope that our efforts will echo out as a helping hand to those delegates that need it the most.
Thank you for taking the time to interview with us, and we commend you on continuing to bring out the best in other delegates!
Interview and article by Miles Nabritt
