¡Viva La Revolución!

By: Bella Kephart

After hundreds of years under Spanish control, the Mexican Revolution committee has finally passed a Constitution for its free nation. Focusing on basic human rights, this new constitution is paving the way for a strong, independent government with ample checks and balances. While the process of true independence is only beginning, the former tyrannical Spanish system has crumbled.

This crucial and foundational document includes clauses regarding due process, freedom of expression, and restored property rights for the Mexican people. Above all, this Constitution abolishes the caste system that dictated Mexican society. This caste system was comprised of four classes: the Peninsulares, or those directly descended of the Iberian Peninsula; the Criollos, or those of nearly pure Iberian descent; the Mestizos, or those of mixed descent; and the Indigenous peoples at the very bottom. In abolishing this caste system, Mexico is heading into the future as a united body, with a clear vision for creating a nation free of imperialistic influence. 

Due to the crucial nature of the caste system clause, a significant amount of time was devoted to its specific wording, much to the dismay of Hermenegildo Galeana, the Constitution’s main sponsor. However, after a heated debate over the nature of the ambiguity of the clause, it was finally cemented, and the rest of the document with it. It was then passed with a unanimous vote, much to the elation of the committee. “[The Constitution] is pretty clear-cut in terms of letting everyone have an equal opportunity,” commented Ben Venus, representing Alejandro del Toro. “Although there is no official government yet, [we are] very hopeful for the plans we have in place.”

OP-ED: A Democratic Approach within a Corrupt Court

By: Quinn Riordan

The Goryeo Court has been plagued with espionage, assassinations, bribery, and possible treason. However, as the court holds elections to find the new successor to the throne, the civilian voice matters. The court passed a directive creating polling for the people which can sway the election held within the court, enforcing those running to reach out to the citizens, banning bribery, or promising government positions, and barring the vote from those running in the election. All of these actions are promoting democratic ideals which will benefit the Goryeo Dynasty as a whole: unifying the people, decreasing corruption and strengthening the nation.  

This switch to elections with the people has forced the candidates to go speak with the civilians and enact directives that directly benefit them. Im Chon and Kim Busik have bolstered their campaign through creating a connection with the people and for the people. 

“We have helped people rebuild their homes, provided food and clean water, and have plans to go back to a domestic economy for the people. We have listened to what they want, and worked to provide it. With education we have been promoting sustainability and religious unity throughout our grand Dynasty and have been gaining the support from the people,” Im Chon said. 

These directives are beneficial to diminish the corruption within the Goryeo Court. The court has been mostly focused on personal benefit and power rather than the nation as a whole, and this new switch promotes the ideas of democracy and progress to push the nation forward. Democracy is defined as a government of the people, for the people and by the people. With the direct participation of citizens, it expands the power to everyone, and makes a nation stronger and more free. Elections are essential because they give the people the power to choose their ruler who can then represent the views and needs of the people. 

“The Goryeo Court is taking a progressive leap allowing women, monks, and different religions to run for the throne and hold an election within the court. Why should we not extend this democracy and power to the people, and show that the great Goryeo Dynasty is for people too?”, former Princess Yeondeok said.

However, the members of the court do not all share the same view on the power of the people and their role in the election. Some have continued to secretly assassinate and bribe other members, despite the push for a fair election. The blatant disregard for even the directives passed within the court display the utter dismissal of the people and are restricting the Goryeo Dynasty from growing and developing as a power. They believe that “the court is made up of those made to be in power, the smartest and strongest, and they would be the best rulers for the people,” Yi Lee Jagyeom said. 

Yet, the holding of elections is a necessary change in the years of the royal and wealthy court consolidating power to themselves. Elections are pivotal to the quality and vitality of a country’s government and can either greatly advance or set back a country’s development. The choice to open elections and include a citizen voice, although not fully, will advance the Goryeo Dynasty and improve the relations of the court and the people.

The Goryeo Dynasty court must continue to expand their connection with the people and ensure the reflection of the people’s will within the court’s decisions. It is unclear how far the court will expand this inkling of democracy, but it is clear the positive implications and outcomes from including the people within the election for both the Dynasty and the nation. 

Im Jong and Prince Po ran together and won the election, the two now the rulers of the Goryeo dynasty. The hope is that they will continue to meet with and make decisions for the people to further the dynasty, and allow it to become more stable and prosper.

Cookie Monster’s First Appearance Since 2008

By: Shriya Beesabathuni

We all love the Cookie Monster, but his last appearance was in 2008, or was it? Would you believe it if I said that he was spotted at MUNUM XXXIII? Saturday, January 18, 2020, the Cookie Monster was spotted in a committee at the MUNUM conference. This committee will stay un-named as the Cookie Monster will be at risk if the committee is revealed. In short, the Cookie Monster was spotted when an IPC member was looking for a good story. While in the committee room, the IPC member noticed something suspicious as a delegate was secretly covering their mouth, mid-committee. In order to inspect further, the IPC member moved closer. They soon realized that the delegate was reaching behind and below their chair to get one of their hands in a bag. The bag contained, you guessed it, cookies. Keep in mind, these cookies were not theirs. The Cookie Monster gained a new friend as the delegate soon returned to their place in their committee and gave the large bag of cookies to the Cookie Monster. Not only are these iconic sweet treats the favorite dessert of the Cookie Monster, but they are also perfectly baked with each unique ingredient that makes them the most-loved snack, just like all the unique delegates make MUNUM the most-loved conference of all time. 

WHO’s Lil Uzi Vert?

By: Charlotte Howald

In the process of concluding the topic of mitigating and eradicating communicable diseases, a total of 10 Working Papers have been merged into three, awe-inspiringly named draft resolutions: 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 (formally known as Working Paper: Renegade). With a variety of sponsors and signatories for each draft, there is steady debate criticizing and denouncing specific aspects from each paper, from the lack of funding from NGOs to the extermination of 3500 species of mosquitoes. 

Many delegates compliment Columbia’s and Bulgaria’s Draft Resolution 1.1 for its specifics regarding Public Programs (United Kingdom’s National Health Service) and NGOs (International Medical Corps). Within the paper, long-term solutions for multiple issues are thoroughly discussed including the recruitment/training of healthcare workers, airport security, water sanitation, and malaria. Bulgaria is especially proud of the versatility of the paper as it not only benefits the entirety of the public, it even appeals to anti-vaxxers. 

With seven sponsors and 27 signatories, Draft Resolution 1.2 (written by Syria) does well to emphasize the importance of funding by calling upon the UN General 5th Assembly. Unfortunately, the delegates of the WHO committee disagree with many of the operatives. A clause encouraging the dumping of sewage onto land in an attempt to prevent water contamination was criticized by Iran for infiltrating groundwater instead. Another Operative, clause 8, recommended using killing agents in stagnant water to kill breeding mosquitoes. This brought the Czech Republic to the front to upbraid the committee on the importance of mosquitoes in our ecosystem, saying: “There are 3,500 species of mosquitoes, 200 species suck blood, but only five species of mosquitoes carry malaria.” Ukraine then shared additional concerns regarding “the environmental impact of exterminating all mosquitoes.” 

Distinguished for it’s “incredibly innovative” funding, 1.3 dedicated one/third of the draft resolution to objective clauses explicitly targets need-based funding distributed by WHO and volunteer NGOs. Among other fundamental issues addressed, zoo-tonic diseases (diseases carried by animals and transmitted to humans) are recognized, followed by solutions to “educate communities on...preventive measures,” and “encourage the usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). ” As Indonesia mentioned, Draft Resolution 1.3 “targets the elimination of vector-borne diseases” in equatorial, tropical, and coastal regions by requesting donations of “insecticide-treated bed nets” from NGOs such as the Global Malaria Program.

In the midst of a lull in the committee, an incredibly moving speech by the delegate of Belgium brought the representatives to their feet. 

“In the words of Lil Uzi Vert: ‘now’s our time.’ The delegate of Belgium stands by [those words]. Now is our time to vote on resolutions.” Amid three unceasing voting procedures, the committee successfully passed Resolution 1.1 and 1.3. Congratulations, WHO. The IPC wishes you the best of luck on your succeeding topic: Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism.

Dead Polar Bears!

By: Jasmine Jacobs

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) started debating Arctic Exclusive Economic Zones in 2020 but their inability to work together and come up with a solution has caused a great tragedy. Five years have passed since they started debating in 2020. It is now  2025 and the polar ice caps have melted, the entire coast is submerged in water, and all the polar bears have died. Many delegates are deeply distraught over the extinction of the polar bears. France expressed her sorrow and anger towards this loss of polar bears at UNCLOS and claims that “it’s all their fault we lost a species.”

Russia’s greed for money and power has caused environmental ruins. Russia violates the national sovereignty of Norway and continues to drill for oil in Antarctica. Even with most of their coast underwater, Russia is still determined to drill for oil and states that it is “not my problem I’m making money off this...I will not back down.” The United States of America worked with Russia before it was discovered that Russia’s oil industry was the main contributor to the polar ice caps melting. However, during an interview, the US stated that she was still willing to work with Russia despite this newfound knowledge. The US did also mentioned that some changes would have to be made to her and Russia’s Working Paper due to the severity of the crisis. U.S and Russia both expressed a desire to work together, but the tension is increasing between the dream team as, according to the US,  Russia reflects no concern towards them as they mentioned in a conversation with Russia that “if we work together you have to care about my problems.”

The committee is divided by those who want to protect the environment from Russia, countries who want to continue to drill for oil, and those who want to fix the environmental crisis. 

Delegates have brought up the idea of using renewable energy like hydropower and solar power instead of oil to help reduce the profits from Russia and to help create a more sustainable environment. One of the working papers details a  recommendation in regard to WWIII to the Security Council and the deployment of peacekeepers, which would place sanctions on Russia and encourage military action if Russia does not comply with these new implementations. 

Russia is one of the main countries that control the oil industry which took a large part in the melting of the polar ice caps. However, the one true cause of this melting was the lack of action and compliance from the committee as a whole. Now, the committee must work together to fix a problem that could have prevented. As the delegate of Belgium stated, “stop using Russia as a scapegoat.” These powers all took part in the problem, and now they must collectively take part in the solution.

An Emerging Country

By: Amita Gowda

The next step of the Mexican governing body is to create a Constitution. Throughout multiple moderated caucuses, the body discussed various topics that they want to be implemented in the formal document. Many directives were also passed to the chair, but many were sent back because the chairs thought they could be passed in the Constitution (there was no need in passing a piece twice). Most of the directives had similar topics and opinions, but some had different perspectives.

Mexico initially wanted independence because they no longer wanted to be bossed around by Spain. It is no wonder almost one-quarter of the committee stood up during a moderated caucus to say that the first order should be to make sure every citizen gets equal rights and equal say in the government. For some politicians, this means abolishing the caste system in which rich citizens get more benefits than the poor citizens. One of the many suggestions was to heavily tax the rich. Similar comments were made in regard to wealth redistribution in favor of the poor. However, one delegate argued against this by saying that heavily taxing the rich would discourage them from making money, consequently harming the already unstable economy.

The style of government was discussed a few times during a moderated caucus as well. The two main types of government debated were a centralized government and a federal government. A centralized government is one in which all of the power goes to one single authority or one group of people. An insurgent leader said this method would create immediate trust among the small board and overall, work more efficiently. A federal government is a system that divides up power between one strong national government and multiple local governments. Another delegate argued that a federal government would make sure that an imperial system — in which a country extends its power and influence through diplomacy and military force — would not eventually develop. 

Once the discussion of the topics in the progressing Constitution reached a certain point, the chair encouraged everyone to get started on debating those topics. The IPC wishes them the best of luck in writing a Constitution that would be fit for both the government and its citizens.

A House Full of Color

By: Sönke Pietsch

In today’s political climate, color has become somewhat of a decisive topic and has become more than a tool to add spice to our periodically dull lives. Affiliating oneself with one shade of this or one tone of that can jeopardize one’s well deserved fame, success or even ruin any future chances of political success. In the United States House of Representatives, delegates have cashed in on this idea and have reflected their choices in the naming of their working papers. 

True to their party, democratic delegates have sided with their counterparts in Congress by throwing themselves into an ocean of blue while Republicans have chosen to delve into a pool of red. In the name of passing the bill in conjugation with the United States Senate and with the President’s support, delegates have chosen to work with their partners across the aisle to ensure that at least the 50% majority vote is reached. As a result, the working paper addressing the imminent crisis in North Carolina, has accurately been called “Purple”, the result of mixing blue and red. 

Armed with instructions from the POTUS to include funding for a border wall in any resolution, these representatives have turned to creativity to guarantee that the proposed bill can securely pass the House by not dipping too far into any blue or red territory. Representative Clark from Massachusetts fifth district said that “whether you are red or blue, the purple bill is a green solution for all”, expressing her support for the bill. 

Other representatives such as Thomas Massie (Republican) from Kentucky's fourth district, have chosen a different strategy and chose to pick up certain clauses of the proposed bill “Purple”. The plan of these delegates is to pass these independently of the whole bill. In doing so, the representative would like to repurpose 40 Billion Dollars of the Department of Energy’s excessive budget and allocate it towards the proposed Emergency relief fund. While the money used for this idea maybe as green as can be and the paper is based off of the bill “Purple”, it is clear that this paper is just a washed out purple.

GAs, Specialized, and Crisis, Oh My!

By: Bella Kephart

For new delegates, choosing a committee can be daunting. General Assemblies, Specialized, Crisis — what does it mean? Listening to delegates explain the nuances of various committees can often sound like Inner Party Members talking in Newspeak, but once explained, you will find that there is a committee for everyone, whether you enjoy a fast-paced or easy-going environment. Let’s break it down in plain English. 

The most quintessential representation of Model United Nations can be found in a General Assembly. These are marked by their large numbers of delegates, each of whom represents a country. Delegates in a General Assembly are usually fighting for attention with minimal success. Daises tend to strictly adhere to parliamentary procedure, and the committees as a whole tend to tackle general issues rather than specific scenarios. For anyone who wants to try Model UN but is hesitant about networking and vocalizing strong opinions (or talking at all), a GA is a perfect fit. 

For delegates who are reading this and falling asleep (at the thought of being in a General Assembly, NOT the perpetual sleep deprivation that comes with conferences), Crisis committees might be a better niche. These are self-explanatory. It’s a crisis. All. The. Time. Just when you think you’ve found a way to mollify the citizens during a hunger strike, someone will assassinate the president…and incinerate their house. Each delegate is assigned to a real historical figure and is expected to make decisions based on what that person would have done. Crisis committees are fast-paced and may cause a delegate’s hair to gray prematurely. Enrique from Castro’s Cabinet said it best: “Sometimes you wanna cry, sometimes you wanna bash your head against the wall, and sometimes you’ll feel good about yourself.” For those who are new to Model UN, beware of joining a crisis committee right off the bat —  much like sparkling water, Crisis committees can be controversial, they either taste like a party in your mouth or TV static in liquid form.

Finally, Specialized committees are for anyone who wants a happy medium. Specialized committees are not nearly as large in size as General Assemblies, and tend to be more nuanced. Like Crisis, each delegate is assigned a character, but specialized committees do not have a fast-paced, panic-inducing, I’m-sweating-through-my-blazer atmosphere. However, with large groups of strong, opinionated individuals, conflict can arise.  According to Jordan Woart, who is representing Ray Blunt in the Senate (R-MO), “Specialized committees…get more ambitious delegates…which makes cooperation and bi-partisanism more difficult to accomplish.” 

In time, every delegate finds their calling. No matter what committee seems the most appealing, every type is necessary to create a functioning, productive government. Happy problem-solving!

Delegate Dance: Go Back or All Whack?

By: Shriya Beesabathuni 

The delegate dance was an experience with drastically different perspectives in the minds of delegates vs the minds of the staff. During committee, many chairs and directors emphasized that the dance is the best, and most hype time of MUNUM. Delegates, on the other hand, were skeptical of the quality of the dance.

Starting off, the dance was very dry, like, drier than the Atacama desert, the driest desert on earth, with two people on the dance floor. Then, the dance started to pick up as more delegates moved to the dance floor. The dance got hype, and then slowed down, picked up, slowed down, and this pattern continued. Many issues arose during the dance, including the song choices: the selection shied away from a newer setlist, in favor of songs from the early 2000s. There was also limited space to dance as it was hosted in a banquet hall, on a dancefloor enclosed by tables.

In other areas, less intense activities such as Kahoot trivia, and a movie provided a quieter environment. These toned-down activities were with smaller groups. 

The dance overall guaranteed a fun time with fellow delegates, even if you were sitting in the corner with your delegation, or living it up in the mosh pit.

A Nice Day? What’s that?

By: Quinn Riordan

Weather Report:

Snowing with a chance of death

- 63.4 degrees  

Hail (around the size of a bowling ball)

Ice (creating a glorified skating rink on campus)

Wind (strong enough to power the entire universe)

A nice day? In Ann Arbor? That doesn’t happen. The conference has been filled with walking a total of 500 miles in temperatures as cold and evil Jack Frost (or Nolan), all while wearing heels and tights. As our legs turn into icicles on the un-ending walk to Palmer Commons, we all contemplate the existence of the sun at all. As the snow accumulates to be taller than the buildings, the delegates slip and slide all about. As MUNUM continues, I can hardly remember what the sun looks like. I watch delegates walk into their committee sessions from the dark outside, dripping from the hail-rain mix with snow on their feet, and wonder how the outside used to be. The green on the trees and the grass, the animals running about, a blue sky. It all fades so quickly. Now, I can only see the white of the snow and feel the cold wind on my neck. The summer seems to be a dream but winter is here, and with it, possibly a new Game of Thrones finale, but most likely just the cold and tears.

MUNUM Raises Funds for United World Schools

By: Quinn Riordan

For the second year, MUNUM is raising donations for the United World Schools. The United World Schools is an organization that works with communities in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Nepal to give children who are not in school access to education, jobs in the community, and work to overall benefit the community. They provide education in reading, writing, and mathematics. Additionally, they build accessible bathrooms and provide sources of clean water. 

“Model UN is certainly in the realm of education, so picking something that has to do with education seemed natural,” Ryan Jansen said. “United World Schools is especially important dealing with out of school children, their impact is wider. It is a more holistic approach. It’s not just about the kids, which is very important, but it’s also about the entire community; integrating them into their societies at large, bringing people into the teaching profession and giving them a steady job. It’s just really important.” 

Last year, MUNUM donated over $1,900 to United World Schools, and as of today MUNUM XXXIII has raised close to $700 and is on track to beat last year’s amount. 

To raise the donations, MUNUM is selling candy grams and hosting a dinner fundraiser today, Jan. 18. For the dinner fundraiser, MUNUM has partnered with Panera, Pizza House and the Original Cottage Inn, and a  large portion of the proceeds go towards this cause. At Panera, delegates must show a flyer. At Pizza House and the Original Cottage Inn delegate can just tell their server that they are with MUNUM. 

“It's a great way to you know, socialize and relax while still doing good. Everyone should take advantage of it,” Jansen said. 

The candy grams will continue to be sold today and tomorrow. 

“They are a fun way to make the modern community smaller,” Jansen said. “There's a lot of people, we all come here to be able to have the same interests, the same passion, and the candy grams are a way of trying to bring the community together. It is just a small way to show appreciation.”

A Game for the Throne: The Goryeo Dynasty

By: Quinn Riordan

As the Jin Dynasty retreated and the Goryeo court was forced to deal with the destruction and anger of their people due to the war, the King died due to injuries from battle. The throne is now empty and the people are questioning who will become their new divine ruler, Kim Busik said. 

After hearing this news, the court took little time to mourn, and members immediately began campaigning for their election to the throne. Members such as Yi/Lee Jagyeom, who married into power, Im Wonjun, Prince Po, the former King’s brother, and other court members followed. 

“The members threatened assassinations as a way to eliminate competitors and gain power, showing the green and corruption of the court,” Princess Yeondeok said.

This corruption has led to the public’s resentment, and an uprising resulted.  The anger has pushed some members of the court to call for elections to try to gain the support of the people. Specifically, Princess Yeondeok has called for the creation of a popular election which would allow the citizens to decide the fate of the ruler of the Goryeo Dynasty. 

“The Goryeo Court is taking a progressive leap allowing women, monks, and different religions to run for the throne and hold an election within the court. Why should we not extend this democracy and power to the people, and show that the great Goryeo Dynasty is for people too,” Princess Yeondeok said. 

However, many members disagree with this plan and believe that the throne should be given to members within the court or part of royal blood. They believe that “the court is made up of those made to be in power, the smartest and strongest, and they would be the best rulers for the people,” Prince Po said. 

The conflict between the court members will certainly grow as the election campaigns further develop. As the people’s levels of unhappiness increases, the members of the court will do anything in their power to ensure a win, no matter how unethical.

Iran Is Not Enough

By: Jane Swartz

Bond, James Bond, made his United Nations debut on Friday night in the 1979 Security Council, following the unexpected and confusing events of that afternoon. Prior to his arrival, the council struggled to pass any directive that properly addressed Khomeini and instability in Iran well into Friday’s afternoon session. The room became divided into the West and the East after the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics brought their military into Afghanistan along with China and Czechoslovakia to ensure the continuation of a Communist government. 

“Hypocrite” was one of the words tossed around by France in relation to the USSR’s involvement with Afghanistan. France felt that every time the West even slightly interfered with any Communist countries, they would cry “national sovereignty,” but in Afghanistan, a country where the people are fighting against a Communist government, the USSR seems to ignore the very concept of it. Capitalism versus communism also caused a rift in the room, prompting Jamaica to say, in a French accent, “Monsieur capitalist, who are you to say it is because of communism?”

Despite this strong division of ideals, neither the East nor West seemed to grasp that Khomeini would refuse to do anything the United Nations suggested until immediate consequences took place. Khomeini organized the public execution of one hundred people. It also included communists, women’s rights activists, who had advanced majorly during the Shah’s government, nuclear scientists from both America and the USSR, and all known spies in the area. This alarmed many people, including the United Kingdom, in fear for their top spy who was possibly going to lead a joint mission by MI6 and the CIA. 

Another directive emerged, this one appropriately titled Leave Iran Alone For A Little While written by Jamaica and supported by the Eastern bloc nations. It detailed exactly as the name suggests  — to remove all personnel from Iran and cease inflammatory press and actions. France raised an issue with the idea of inaction in Iran, reminding the council that more people would die if the United Nations completely removed themselves. A compromise took place after France threatened to use their veto power. Since currencies like the dollar and the franc are more valuable to those in Iran and most business is done utilizing such currencies rather than rials due to their low value in the global market, the compromise included the freezing of Khomeini and other high-ranking officials’ foreign accounts. This appeared to appease all P-5 nations in the room, and was passed. 

This is where James Bond made his debut. He dramatically arrived just before the passing of Leave Iran Alone For A Little While. Dressed in a fur cap and a blond wig, Bond spoke with a Russian accent, appearing to be on a phone call. He then addressed the room, instructing them to take action against Khomeini and the heinous crimes committed against the people of Iran. A few seconds and a somersault later, Bond was gone.

A Valiant Effort

By: Brady Noble

It was 10:37 EST when the announcement came, a Disney cruise with between several hundred to a thousand people on board was commandeered by hijackers 50 miles off the coast of the island of Barbados. They were heading southeast, yet motives and intentions remained unclear. They were armed with ex-soviet assault rifles, and took control over the vessel by swarming it with small boats. Their demands were extreme: five billion US dollars as well as complete control over the state of Hawaii. 

A glimmer of hope appeared when it became apparent that there were United States authorities within close proximity of the ship. The Pentagon’s Response Team believed that this could be used to the advantage of the hostages, reducing response time. There was however a consensus that more backup would be needed in the event of either a hostage negotiation or a raid of the ship. The idea of using either satellite data or helicopters/drones was proposed, and it became clear that the latter would be far too risky. 

Another opportunity came when the Response Team was able to connect directly with one of the hostages. A female passenger by the name of Maria was reporting to the team that one of her fellow passengers had suffered a heart attack, with no medical personnel on board. She was instructed by the Pentagon staff in performing CPR on the patient, who was breathing and still had a pulse. When asked by the team for useful information regarding the hijackers, the line went dead. With another barrier in place, it was established that direct contact with the hijackers must be made.

A note from the hijackers then came in. They announced that they had reduced their demands from five billion to two billion, while still requesting Hawaii. A potential solution was proposed, giving the hijackers counterfeit currency, in the hope that they would release some of the hostages. However, the majority believed that the team should not negotiate, as that was policy. Other solutions included jamming the radar with ships and having snipers shoot the hijackers. Most on the committee were apprehensive to this plan, feeling that the hijackers may or may not resort to murdering the hostages. Instead, acting against policy, they made an offer to the hijackers: five hundred million dollars as well as the island of Maui. They had no intention of actually giving this away, they just wanted to see if the hijackers were negotiable. However, before that offer could be sent, the hijackers sent another offer: one-hundred fifty million dollars as well as Hawaii. 

After a few minutes of debate, the hijackers sent one last offer with an ultimatum: one-billion dollars as well as complete amnesty by the US government. They additionally stated that for every five minutes that the deal was not accepted, a civilian would be executed. 

With mounting pressure, the team made a final decision, the deal would be accepted, while a simultaneous raid on the ship would be conducted. 

At the end of it all, approximately half of the hostages were killed, as well as half of the hijackers. The rest of the hijackers fled to Columbia. Most on the team viewed the operation as a success. There were dissenters however, including one who screamed “congratulations, you just killed a hundred civillians!” Despite this, the President has deemed the operation a success, and praises the team for their work.

Icons at MUNUM XXXIII

By: Shriya Beesabathun

Fashion is an expression, a motivator, an icon. This column will address the most iconic MUNUM XXXIII outfits, that could also be considered great acts of clout. During the opening ceremony, Drew, one of the secretariats, truly made a statement when he popped off in a classy floral blazer. The colors in the blazer perfectly complimented his skin tone and made him a true icon. 

Similarly, the director of the International Press Corps, Kelly, made a statement with her elegant appearance in a white turtleneck and blazer. She accompanied this sleek look with black plaid pants. Then, she paired the look with a sleek low bun, with a few pieces of hair out to frame her face, and vibed with a maroon lip. Now, are you an icon?

Party, Party, Party

By: Allison Gerth

Last night the delegate dance took place at the Kensington Hotel. After a full day of committee and debate, the delegates were ready to have fun with their friends and change out of their professional-wear. The night was filled with music, dancing, and many people having a fun time. While there were complaints about the DJ and his choice in music, people still danced t and enjoyed themselves. 

At one point in the night, all of the delegates stopped dancing and started to sit down. A delegate who was at the dance stated that “we aren’t dancing to this cause the music is bad. We want the DJ to play good music.'' 

The staffers also enjoyed themselves during the dance as they did small dances with the other chair members on the outskirts of the room. Aside from the complaints about the music, numerous delegates and chairs had a great time at the MUNUM XXXIII delegate dance. Overall, it was successful and everyone able to relax and enjoy themselves with their friends after a long day of committee sessions. 

The Five Archetypes of Model UN

By: Bella Kephart

Each year, Model UN conference brings a plethora of new experiences, interesting committees, and unique groups of delegates. Even so, there are unmistakable archetypes that can be found at every conference. Here are a few examples. 

#1: The Gavel-Chasers

Welcome to the world of the binder-people. The scary people. The stay-up-until-three-in-the-morning-writing-speeches people. Gavel-chasers are in it to win it. They dominate every caucus, develop the most complex character arcs, and usually talk the most out of anyone. You can be sure that you’ll leave committee every day wondering what you’ve been doing with your life. Gavel-chasers are to be admired; they are the civil officers of the future, the lawyers, the activists. They’re going places. Plus, they are the life-blood of Model UN; gavel-chasers keep each committee session going. But for now, they’re just the ones throwing directives in your face and winning everything. Watch out for these delegates. Or else.

#2: The Slackers

When does committee start? How long until we can go get food? Wait, what country am I? If you’ve heard any of these questions on a frequent basis, they are most likely coming from the mouth of a Slacker. These delegates can be super fun to be around, but you can be sure that they haven’t written a position paper in advance or even read their background guide. Slackers are mostly just here to have fun-- to get dressed up, to walk around the city with Starbucks, and meet new people. If you ask, they’ll probably sign your directive or working paper-- just know they aren’t going to read it. 

#3: The Nappers

You guessed it. These are the delegates that sleep through EVERYTHING. Committee, meals, you name it. You can spot Nappers in their natural habitat, which seems to be everywhere. In the back row of a General Assembly, at a random table in the corner, or even on the floor. Don’t bother waking them up-- chances are they have been out for a while and have no idea what’s going on. But while coming to a conference just to sleep through it may seem lame, you have to recognize the talent it takes to doze off in the middle of a heated unmod. Serious props.

#4: The Newbies

Hello, dear little Model UN babies. Welcome to the terrifying world of overachieving high schoolers. It’s all going to be okay. When you see a Newbie, consider giving them a hug. Coming to a conference for the first time is the equivalent of jumping into a pit of fruit bats... that’s on fire. Although Newbie delegates may seem like the most terrified delegates of all, they are really the bravest. You got this, Newbies. 

#5: The Ones Who Bring the Flags

This fifth category encapsulates a wide variety of special snowflakes. Yes, delegates who fall in this category often do bring actual flags to committee, but also elaborate costumes, pins, and a generally disruptive aura. These people are here to wreak havoc, y’all. Often, delegates who Bring the Flags are actually some of the smartest delegates in the room. But you wouldn’t know it, because they’re the ones drafting directives about how they’re going to consolidate the middle third of the world into the Mega-East and breed silkworms to generate revenue, or how they’re going to eliminate a global superpower using nothing but an army of locusts, or anything along those lines. These people are straight-up weird, but they make things interesting. Flag-Bringers, you are strange. But we appreciate you.

No matter what category you fall into, or if you don’t fit into one of these categories at all, each delegate that comes to Model UN is valuable and necessary to make these conferences possible. Together, we can learn how to improve the world we live in for the benefit of everyone. Let’s do this.

To Try or Not To Try

By: Sönke Pietsch

Model United Nations is an extracurricular activity that provides a wealth of opportunities for students of various ages by challenging every scholar’s inner patience, collaboration skills, and debate. The conference at the University of Michigan serves as an amazing catalyst for delegates of various levels of experience, ranging from veteran representatives churning out working papers 5 minutes into committee to complete novices; this opportunity allows every student to project their skill and knowledge. Yet, some delegates, especially those new to the experience, are sometimes intimidated by the others and instead, choose to retreat into silence and do nothing. 

The question obviously at hand: what do these delegates do with the idle time they spend in committee? The answer to this question is more surprising than some might think. 

The first option that usually comes to mind when boredom hits hard is using, or more accurately *misusing*, a tool usually preserved as an alternative to cross-talk: note passing. Drawing scribbles on folded pieces of scrap paper or playing a round of tic-tac-toe with a friend on the other side of committee seems to be the go-to option for many newly trialed-delegates. Even for some, playing these games through note passing is simply just another form of game pigeon but on paper. 

Here comes our first tip - when passing notes, you need to ensure that your dias, in this case specifically the pager, does not examine the contents of your ‘notes’ when bringing the paper to your friend. Even better, I recommend that you personally escort your paper to your friend and ensure it’s safe delivery without a hitch. For all those without this option, we recommend simply sharing the inside info on who did this, or who did that, maybe even related to policy, to make time pass faster. 

Another appealing option for some delegates, especially those that actually want to take advantage of literally being at Model UN conference, is writing a resolution - granted, despite the fact  that would never actually be addressed in the United Nations. Learning the formatting and language of a working paper draft can be beneficial nonetheless, although the ideas found inside it, are probably not written with the thought in mind to be taken seriously. 

Let us enlighten you with yet another tip. When writing your resolution, regardless of content, make sure to use the outline and vocabulary list provided by your MUNUM handbook. This is tool is invaluable, and will act as your best friend for any future conference that you may attend, regardless of committee. Even better yet, by using this resource, you may even have the chance of having your paper be read out loud by the chair.

The final path some delegates take in their conquest against  boredom is trying to insert themselves into the conversations of the matters at hand. While moderated caucuses and speakers lists may seem daunting, some delegates choose to participate in their committees through unmoderated caucuses or Q&As. However, what all these delegates have failed to consider, is that at the end of the day, you could always just join IPC...

A Marriage into War

By: Quinn Riordan

Princess Yeondeok married the Emperor Tiazmo of the Jin Dynasty, or the Jurchen people, leading the Goryeo into a war. As the Princess held a bouquet and walked down the aisle with her dad and husband to join together the two dynasties through the marriage, the court grew further divided and conflict seemed imminent.

“The marriage was formed with good intentions, with the hope to unify the two dynasties and create one strong dynasty with the Jurchen people,” Princess Yeondeok said. 

Princess Yeondeok planned the marriage in order to gain access to the Jurchen officials and utilize espionage to gain tactical and military knowledge. However, she worked as a double agent she exchanged information with her new husband and the court. As lies spread, the court became warier of its other members and the multiple assassination attempts were made on Princess Yeondeok. 

As tensions rose, the Goryeo court received an announcement stating “the Jin Dynasty was marching to the border, after they were told about the false peace talks the court planned with the Jurchen.” The Jurchen were well aware of this attack and killed the fake Generals that the Goryeo placed in the meeting. They prevented the horseshoe plan that would move them towards the sea where the Goryeo navy was waiting. Because of this unexpected action, the Goryeo faced heavy losses, and the Jurchen stood undefeated and continued their march to the border. 

Previously, the Jin Dynasty had proposed that the Goryeo Dynasty joined the Jin, with the stipulation that they had to pay them silver and give up land, to create the ultimate dynasty. Princess Yeondeok read these demands to the court, promising to use her position to put court members in high positions on the Jurchen court, allowing them greater power and control. These demands were not accepted by the Goryeo court, and with the Jurchen marching on to the border, the sense of alarm and urgency in the room was palpable.

Directives were hastily made and passed to form an alliance with the Song Dynasty and Japan, to set the border on fire to prevent invasion, draft troops, and move the army to fight. The battle commenced, but the border fires prevented the Jurchen from entering Goryeo land which left the land ravaged with destruction. Many  Goryeon troops died as the Jurchen remained away from the sea routes. The Jurchen withdrew from the front, leaving the Goryeo Dynasty plagued with an uprising, unhappy citizens, destroyed lands, and tensions within the court.

Betrayal at it’s Finest

By: Jasmine Jacobs

Breaking News: Today, the delegate, Enrique Oltusk betrayed the Cabinet of Cuba by releasing private information about Cuba’s relationship with the mafia and the banishment from the OAS to the citizens of Cuba. Members of the cabinet were furious and demanded immediate reprimanding but Oltusk defended his decision by stating that, “l let them know what happened behind closed doors...I told them the truth”. 

The delegate, Celia Sanchez and many others heavily encourages punishment for betraying not only the cabinet but the citizens. Some members of the cabinet wholeheartedly agree with Enrique Oltusk. Osualdo Dortico, the president of Cuba, stating that she would pardon any punishment towards him.

After the first betrayal, it was discovered that Oltusk was going through Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s email to provide more information to the public. The cabin was deeply disturbed and it fueled the debate about what should happen to Oltusk . 

A vote was taken about exiling Oltusk from Cuba but it did not revive the two thirds majority in order to get passed. Even with the constant fear of being exiled, killed or put in jail, Oltusk continues to express his desire to provide the truth to the citizens of Cuba. 

 The citizens have been posting propaganda with messages expressing their disappointment towards the government. Quotes appeared including, “Cuba’s red leaders kill our people” and “Where is he now?”. 

The Prime Minister of Cuba stormed in shortly after propaganda was released, screaming his disappointment towards the cabinet and their lack of progress towards public relations. He ended his powerful speech by chanting “Fatherland or Death” with other cabinet members joining in. The Prime Minister fears that spies have infiltrated the cabinet and spreads fear through the members. 

The cabinet has passed multiple directives in hopes of building back their reputation and gaining the trust back from the citizens. They have passed directives including “Boil My Oil”..”Get Literate” and “Uproot Corruption from the Cabinet.”

They hope that with the new directives the relationship between the Cuban people and the government will be restored and they can begin to focus on Cuba as a whole, including natural resources like oil and sugar. 

Cubans hope that their actions will make a positive difference and will ease the tension.One concept they learned for certain is Cuba is the place to consider, “ Fatherland or Death”.