“To intervene...is not their duty”

By: Ash K. Srivastava [xe/xyr]

Yesterday, the UNSC voted on Resolution 1.0, with a few amendments. It passed unanimously, in an unprecedented show of unity. The amendments called for a weapons embargo, created a sub-committee “for determining the status of Bosnian peace,” and reworded a few clauses. One addition now reads, “at any point where the lives of the peacekeepers are threatened, they are not to intervene with violence as it is not in their duty to do so,” meaning that peacekeepers deployed under this resolution may repeat the failures of the 1990s and leave Bosniak Muslims vulnerable to Serbian attacks. Overall, the passage of this resolution is a success for the unity of the UNSC, but a failure on all other counts. There are clearly large flaws within this Resolution, as highlighted in a previous op-ed. At the end of the day, the UNSC is united, but the future of Bosnia and the oppressed minorities who are currently being persecuted, without any resistance from the UNSC, hangs in the political balance. Now, the UNSC will move on to conquer the issue of civil war in Tajikistan and I will move on to another committee. Stay tuned.

Malicious Medicine

By: Brady Noble

In early 2020, panic grew with the rapid spread of COVID-19. Panic can cause many ordinarily thoughtful people to make impulsive, sometimes irresponsible purchases out of the desire for safety and security. At the beginning of the pandemic, this phenomenon manifested itself in the excessive purchase of nominal things like toilet paper and Lysol wipes.

However, people have recently been seeking out medical supplies to protect themselves. As a result, many have taken advantage of this new demand to sell substandard medical equipment, particularly personal protective equipment. The worldwide marketplace has been flooded with low-quality masks, shields, and gowns, as well as falsified medicine. Out of desperation, many have turned to phony medicine and PPE. Given the high-profit margins, organized crime groups are making quite a bit of money with these schemes. 

Many delegations represented in UNDOC have a vested interest in solving this problem. In almost every nation represented, citizens are falling prey to these scams. Within the committee, there are several factions forming regarding how to respond. There are three current blocks working on formatting papers. A few of the delegations propose widespread education campaigns to convince the public as to which products are legitimate. Other nations propose a regulatory board that will give stamps of approval to legitimate products. One plan carries a “three-pronged approach” to the problem. As the delegation of Cuba put it, “our goal is three-fold, to educate the public, put in harsh punishments and reduce drug prices so that people will have a reason to purchase legitimate products.”  As of now, the debate is ongoing. 

BREAKING NEWS in the Council of the Tang Dynasty

By Tananya Prankprakma

Previously, the council of the Tang Dynasty had to contend with Uyghur forces attacking and invading their land from the north. This attack was not completely unprovoked, as an order had been made for Tang soldiers to pair up with merchants on their way to trade with the Uyghurs. The soldiers then engaged with Uyghur forces in casual skirmishes, and the situation escalated from there. 

As two factions of council members discussed strengthening troops at the border as a defensive action, General Shuhan announced that he had been the one to suggest that soldiers go with merchants and that he had Uyghur hostages that he would swiftly execute should the council take any actions that he disagreed with. 

Many council members were unsurprised, as General Shuhan had previously been named as a suspect already. Their attention remained on taking back Tang land in an inoffensive way rather than attacking the Uyghurs and General Shuhan. 

The majority of the council then voted on a directive to return General Shuhan’s hostages and mobilize troops in the most peaceful way possible. Their plan laid out a timeline over the course of several months and encouraged diplomacy if possible. The only possible cause of any further disagreement lies in the fact that General Shuhan may or may not actually cooperate and return his hostages.

It is yet to be seen what course of action General Shuhan will take. Council members quickly took action after the directive was passed in order to discuss his future. It is yet to be seen what the council will decide. 

OP-ED: Plagiarizing History

By: Ash K. Srivastava [xe/xyr]

Rewriting history? More like plagiarizing history. The MUNUM UNSC has unified behind two resolutions: 1.0 and 1.1. Unfortunately, these resolutions repeat the same mistakes that the official UNSC made in 1992. Not only do these create “safe zones,” which made Bosniak Muslims “sitting ducks” (Crosby) during the war, they also name Serbians as “ethnic minorities that face threats of ethnic cleansing in the Bosnian conflict” (Resolution 1.0), even though the MUNUM UNSC received a report that Serbians were “rounding up Bosniaks within the Bosnian region...on top of their censorship and looking at [Bosniaks’] passports and roadblocks” from one of the MUNUM UNSC Chairs during Committee Session 2.  It also clearly states that “the framework of [peacekeeping] operations shall not apply to weapons and military equipment” (Resolution 1.1), meaning that no action is being taken regarding Serbian arm stockpiling, which proved fatal to defenseless Bosniaks and UN peacekeeping forces in the 1990s. The resolutions also give UNSC members the power to appoint officials in crucial positions to rebuild the country, including “a committee of nations... [to] facilitate negotiations” (Resolution 1.0) about government structure. This could prove disastrous, as the system that the United States, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, and the European Union helped negotiate through the Dayton Accords in 1995 has left Bosnia and Herzegovina in tatters, stuck between three presidents and with 18.56% of their population (The Borgen Project) living in poverty. Lastly, Resolution 1.0 recommends having citizens report any violence through peacekeepers, which did not work for cases of sexual assault in the 1990s because peacekeepers perpetrated and enabled Serbians to pursue severe sexual abuse of women and children during the Bosnian mission. These resolutions do not ensure the success of the MUNUM UNSC in creating better solutions than the ones implemented by the official UNSC in the 1990s.

It also seems that the MUNUM UNSC has resolved the debate about using the phrase “ethnic cleansing,” with Resolution 1.0 defining ethnic cleansing in the first clause, garnering US support. The situation continues to evolve and we will keep you posted.

Works Cited:

Crosby, Alan. “Explainer: The ‘Very Bad History’ of Safe Zones.” RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, 5 May 2017, www.rferl.org/a/syria-safe-zone-explainer-srebrenica/28468420.html.

The Borgen Project. “Top 10 Facts about Poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” The Borgen Project, 14 Aug. 2018, borgenproject.org/facts-about-poverty-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina/#:~:text=Despite%20its%20small%20size%2C%20however.

Westendorf, Jasmine-Kim, and Louise Searle. “Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Peace Operations: Trends, Policy Responses and Future Directions.” International Affairs, vol. 93, no. 2, 1 Mar. 2017, pp. 365–387, academic.oup.com/ia/article/93/2/365/2982811, 10.1093/ia/iix001.

Bunce’s Bank for Booty

By: Adi Balaji

As debate escalated in Blackbeard’s Pirate Council, an interesting initiative was brought to light by Pirate Phineas Bunce: The Memento Mori Pirate Reserves. These reserves would act as a bank for all pirates of the Caribbean and North Atlantic to protect their booty from seizure by the British Royal Navy. The giant controversy that arose from this initiative is the surrender of freedom that comes with being a pirate to a centralized bank that would contain their precious loot, overseen by pirates itself. A very contentious question arose: are pirates willing to surrender their loot to a bank if it means secrecy can be maintained and the ways of pirates can be preserved?

Bunce’s directive details a very intricate system of money management that involves fellow pirates surrendering two-thirds of their wealth and agreeing to maintain an oath of secrecy of their pirate life, lest 25% of their wealth be used to place a bounty upon their own head for betrayal and disloyalty. Bunce mentions that the incentive for pirates to safeguard their wealth in this banking system would be the lower chance of being outed: if all pirates are sure to use the bank for their booty, Bunce’s safety clause will ensure that the participating pirates “keep their mouths shut” about pirate life and will curb whistleblowers.

An anti-Centralist bloc that formed strongly disagreed with Bunce’s ideas for a central pirate bank. They believed that pirate groups should remain independent without any large pirate bodies. as that would take away the “freedoms that piratism provides'.” “We don’t want to become a big pirate nation, we just want a ‘loose pirate confederation’ that can lightly oversee pirate duty,” says Mary Read, a pirate who is famous for excelling as a female pirate in this male-dominated field. Josiah Burgess, the captain of the Flying Gang’ states, “for pirates, centralism is bad when it comes to things like money,” something that pirates value very much due to their dynamic and sea-farer lifestyle. Charles Vane was perhaps the most opposed to Phineas Bunce’s plan for the centralized banking system, stating that “piracy is a direct tangent to the traditional growth of society, and it would be counterintuitive for us to go the way of the traditional society.”

To handle the backlash, Bunce, of course, had to make many compromises to his directive including changing the initiative from a large centralized public pirate bank to a decentralized bank with optional participation located in a highly confidential location known only by fellow pirates. Rather than using the reserve for storage of wealth, it will be used to track transactions between pirates to verify identity, prevent fraud, and protect money from seizure by the British Royal Navy.

These changes were in the council’s benefit as they allowed the committee to pass the directive of The Memento Mori Pirate Reserves by a very narrow majority. The situation moderately divided the committee and resulted in a slight, but evident animosity between the supporters of centralism in piracy and opposers. It is unsure what part this divide may or may not play while dealing with the hostile situation with the British Royal Navy. The situation rapidly develops as we cover the story of Blackbeard’s pirate council.

“Tiny Little Nothing Nation” vs. British Canada

By: Elena Lu

The British Canada Cabinet is taking immediate action to maximize their strengths and gather allies. William Dummer Powell and Sir George Prevost formed a plan to take the US down from the inside by gathering intelligence and taking full advantage of the rift between the Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists. George Stracey Smyth objected to the idea of taking the U.S. down from the inside, pointing out the high risk and potential consequences of getting caught. In response, Powell declared, “They’re already going to unleash everything on us. We might as well try it.” He also commented that the British Canadians should “play up the victim role—[the U.S.] declared war on us, not the other way around.”

Prevost commended the Cabinet for their teamwork and unity, stating, “We are doing really well with our cooperation … we’re staying united as a front, and I am really happy with that as our country. I would say if we were to continue to do this, we would be in a very good place with the war against the United States.” He added, “I would consider the directive that we are finishing up right now to be … a great step in the right direction.” However, Prevost and Smyth clashed several times during the discussion over various points, including the degree of aggression to use in the war.

The U.S., meanwhile, is also sending spies to sow discord in French Canada, yet perhaps it should focus on its own unity. Daniel Webster noted that the United States Cabinet has suffered from “copious amounts of in-fighting.” Points of debate included funding and whether or not to send militias. After much discussion, the Cabinet produced a directive addressing the disorganized state of the U.S. army. The directive provided for four U.S. army training camps, a propaganda campaign with the goal of mobilizing an additional 40,000 soldiers, and a 5% pay raise, yearly pension, and provision of land parcels for qualified soldiers.

Battle plans are being made in both Cabinets. British Canada plans to take the bridge over the Oswegatchie River with a force of 150, take arsenals and batteries, then capture Fort Oswegatchie. Prevost also proposed a propaganda campaign to convince the American people that British Canada seeks only liberty and equality—values that the U.S. holds in high regard—and that the U.S. leadership is the one at fault. In the U.S. Cabinet, Daniel Webster argues that an enormous amount of pressure should be put on British Canada to eliminate their ability to counter-attack quickly.

Smyth stated boldly during the discussion that the U.S. is “a little tiny nothing nation right now and they just want more land. We have international support on our side.” The war is still unfolding, so check back soon for updates and interviews.

Japanese Reconstruction Agency: Action Plans

By: Edison Park

The Japanese Reconstruction Agency met for a second session today to discuss specifics regarding plans of action. Following the continued debate on what aspects of the crisis should be prioritized, the agency split into blocs to push directives. Two directives were passed in this session.

The first directive, sponsored by Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Osamu Fujimura, Masanori Yamamoto, and Minoru Hanada, focuses on providing immediate relief to the Japanese citizens and stabilizing nuclear power plants. The Evacuation 101 and Nuclear Stabilization Directive allocates a total of 190 billion yen (approx. 1.9 billion USD) for the following actions:

• Have top Japanese construction companies build temporary shelters (100 billion yen)

• Have NGOs lead an evacuation of a 20-kilometer radius of the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini power plants (5 billion yen)

• Utilize trucks owned by TEPCO, a Japanese utility company, to transport government-owned generators and water to stabilize nuclear reactors (25 billion yen)

• Provide care packages that are to be distributed by NGOs every 3 days (50 billion yen)

• Evacuation of those not impacted by the nuclear blast in response to other problems caused by the disaster (10 billion yen)

The second directive, sponsored by Yuichiro Hata, Renho Saito, Shingo Ura, Kiyoshi Kurokawa, Aiko Sugimoto, Shigeru Sugawara, and Sekita Yasuo, focuses on the livelihood of the Japanese people and the consequences of both of the natural disasters and the following nuclear radiation. The Rescue, Evacuation, and Supply Directive outlines the following ideas: 

• Send preliminary alerts directed towards towns within 5 kilometers of the nuclear disaster for evacuation purposes

• Use the Japanese Air Self-Defense to help the evacuation 

• Instruct local governments to distribute medicine to the people for the radioactivity

• Allow the efforts made by foreign nations

• Create an agency to deal with radiation-affected areas

• Use government media to spread transparent news on the situation

Concerns with the second directive were introduced by Masanori Yamamoto, Osamu Fujimura, and Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, specifically regarding the weight of foreign influence, funding, and a lack of specific information. Delegates mainly found troubles with the fifth operative clause, which insinuates a reliance on foreign aid. Despite these concerns, the directive barely passed with ten votes for and six votes against.

The committee will continue the discussion for further action after lunch.

Trade and Traitors

By: Tananya Prankprakma

The Tang Dynasty find themselves in a skirmish with the Uyghur Khaganate, their neighbors on the northern border who have started taxing Tang merchants. Members of the council have claimed  that the Uyghurs do not find much value in their trade relationship anymore. Some took a more hostile view of Uyghur actions than others, but there was not a consensus on what the Uyghurs’ exact intentions may have been. 

Two main factions emerged to deal with the trade question. The first faction, involving an outspoken General Siming and a few others, valued military action above all. The other faction of the cabinet favored a more diplomatic approach. Although General Siming and his faction of the cabinet did not wish to be brash and disrespectful, they agreed that military action had more potential than the option of pure diplomacy. Though split on the primary course of action, cabinet members from both factions strongly agreed that a reinforcement of military forces was in order, although they disagreed on the matter in which it should be done. 

While debate in the cabinet seemed to be going quite peacefully, a concerned Tang citizen living along the northern border addressed the council and gave news of recent chaos. An order had been made to buddy up soldiers with merchants as they travel and trade with the Uyghurs. The Uyghurs took it poorly and the Tang soldiers became violent with those on the other side. 

“I’m deeply concerned and it is getting chaotic there and incredibly violent,” the citizen said, “especially with regards to these trade caravans.” The citizen also noted that a person in the council room had been responsible for the order to pair up soldiers and merchants. Council members immediately condemned the actions of whoever had made the order. 

There had not been any agreement that such action was appropriate before it had been taken by a single council member. “The person who raised military action is cowardly, and especially now that they aren’t coming up and [confessing], it’s cowardly and it is unacceptable,” The Imperial Advisor said. Other council members agreed and many proclaimed that the actor was a traitor. 

However, not long after, the Uyghurs started attacking invading Tang land. As the Uyghur forces surround the capital and gain control over a significant number of Tang citizens, the council continues to work under pressure to quickly and effectively address the Uyghur question. 

Pillars of Responsibility

By: Piper Davenport

In recent years technology has progressed at an accelerated pace, and with it so, too, has the demand for certain finite materials. This competition has led to the creation of conflict minerals which are natural resources whose extraction and trade lead to frequent and egregious human rights violations. The minerals most commonly classified under this umbrella are lithium, cobalt, and 3TG (tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold). The WTO has taken up the task of dealing with the crisis of conflict minerals by establishing increasingly responsible supply chains. 

Through lively debate during the first committee session, delegates have established their concern with the consistency of human rights violations borne out of conflict minerals. To combat this issue, two Working Papers are in draft stages, both of which focus on the importance of global cooperation and finding ways to transform companies' inherent drive for economic gains. 

The largest bloc, composed of approximately 20 delegates, is aptly named Resolve Responsibly. Their collaborative efforts have yielded a comprehensive paper of three pages that covers everything from mineral certification processes to the expansion of Peacekeeper influence. Most significantly of all of their proposals is the creation of an International Mining Authority (IMC) and a Global Mineral Ledger (GML). Under the advisement of the IMC, the GML would serve as a collaborative document for nations to track ethically and sustainably sourced materials. Should companies or nations seek to purchase materials not included in the ledger they would be informed of the necessity to, in the words of the delegation of Spain, “Do their due diligence to the national community.” To enforce said measures, the GML will release statements including companies’ sourcing techniques and their negative effects on the public to increase consumer accountability. Additionally, nations will be advised to maintain domestic accountability through increased taxes on companies that are out of compliance. 

The QuadPillar Plan includes many of the same aspects though it differs on a few significant details. Recognizing the limitations of both purview and enforcement capabilities inherent to general assemblies this paper stresses the independence of nations once working under the recommendations that it provides. Additionally, it suggests national maximums of mineral extraction based on their previous economic dependency on said minerals to further sustainability and more easily identify areas of unethical extraction practices. In the Resolve Responsibly bloc there has been mild debate on the true motivations of corporations, however the prevailing perspective, as the delegate of Italy has stated, is that “Profits are primarily their [companies] only motive. To counteract this we require stringent regulations.” Though while the QuadPillar plan recognizes these motivations to be accurate, they highlight the negative effects that stringent regulations might have on the citizenry of the affected countries.

The Japanese Reconstruction Agency: An Insider on the First Session

By: Edison Park

In response to the Japanese nuclear disaster of this year, 2011, the Japanese Reconstruction Agency has convened to discuss plans to regain national stability. The agency, despite debates on what the priorities should be, has made clear topics that they desire to focus on during their first session.

The agency has focused on the immediate actions that need to be taken, the first seeming to be the evacuation of the citizens. With a current 2-kilometer radius evacuation and the people being left in the dark on all the information of the situation, the agency aspires to expand this radius, while also informing the citizens on the situation to ensure trust and transparency. This has shown to be a major priority for most delegates; Representative of the Liberal Democratic Party, Masayoshi Yoshino, has expressed concerns as a Fukushima native, and presses for a minimum 3-kilometer radius evacuation rather than the current mandated 2-kilometer radius. This radius evacuation has been debated, but the clear consensus of the agency is that limiting nuclear exposure to the citizens is a necessity.

They have also briefly discussed the topic of the environment, stating that handling the environmental repercussions of the disaster should be a priority. Head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan, Mizuho Fukushima, regarded that even before the relocation of the people, it is essential to focus on the environmental consequences. 

The committee spoke mostly during the second hour about the importance of giving aid to the people, and that getting supplies into the affected areas appears to be difficult. As the current plan stands, the committee looks to focus on relocation efforts and then providing aid to these given areas. The agency has discussed how the aid would be transported and the delegates spoke on utilizing the military, coastal guard, and even airdropping supplies similar to the use of airdropping in Berlin by nations such as the United States. As for what the aid would look like, the committee briefly mentioned stimulus packages for the unemployed, but specifics have yet to be considered.

In receiving disaster aid, the agency seems to be concerned with the role of foreign nations. Foreign aid has been a pressing concern due to concerns of exploitation. A representative of the Democratic Party, Hiroshi Nakai, pressed the importance of using NGOs during the first moderated caucus, but reminded the committee that this is a time of weakness of the nation, and insinuated that overreliance on foreign aid may result in devastating consequences to the nation’s sovereignty. However, other delegates have insisted that it is important to not be stubborn in receiving aid, and the Mayor of Kesennuma, Shigeru Sugawara, has clarified by stating that reliance on foreign aid is an inevitable necessity.

Near the end of the first session, a CNN report emphasizing the urgency of the situation, as well as introducing a new topic: the mental health of the Japanese people. Before the end of the session, the committee began an unmoderated caucus to discuss this new topic and its position on the agenda in comparison to the other concerns.

In essence, the agency currently debates about the order of priority, as well as how these actions should look like. The session ended with the delegates emphasizing all of their concerns with the situation and initial ideas regarding plans of action. The agency is expected to begin a second session to discuss more specific plans and begin to take action further at 11:30 AM.

UNGASS Debates Illicit Influence from the First Russian Czech Bank

By: Sophia Rich

The United Nations Special Session General Assembly Against Corruption (UNGASS) was introduced in 2018 and was created to address corruption in the international, private, and public sectors. Today, these delegates from nations all over the world set out to tackle two major topics: illicit influence from the first Russian Czech bank and preventative measures of corruption and warfare.

The first half of today’s committee primarily focused on illicit influence from the First Russian Czech Bank. A controversial topic to all, debates immediately arose regarding elitists in Russia and their knowledge of this internal corruption. Delegates from Belarus and Germany immediately blamed Russian elitists for their knowledge of this financial corruption, and they continuously called them out for their lack of action. This form of financial corruption blatantly benefits Russian elitists and therefore leads them to ignore this issue and combat it with self-serving greed. This disputable topic caused quite a spark in the committee and eventually led to some strongly-worded debate, with the delegate from Russia rushing to defend their nation.

The next topic that was brought to the floor was the importance of transparency from the Russian government. The delegate from Tanzania set the stage for this moderated caucus by saying that, “we cannot act upon what we cannot see.” This sparked an intense debate on whether Russian transparency would be an effective solution to this issue, and with some delegates arguing that transparency alone is not enough, this debate seemed to be divisive within the committee. The majority of the delegates began to lean towards the idea of sanctions along with accountability. The delegate from the United States felt strongly that as one of the world's leading powers, the U.S. needed to step up in this committee and help lead everyone to a reasonable and ethical solution. This delegate argued that to hold Russia accountable, this committee must first threaten them with sanctions to prove the severity of this specific case of corruption. The energy was high and the debate was lively in UNGASS today, showcasing the probable high-stakes for the next two days. 

DISEC Debates Nuclear Weapons in the Middle East

By: Elina Palapattu

The debate is lively this morning as the delegates from DISEC are filled with ideas on how to best handle nuclear weapons in the Middle East. Everyone seems to agree that this is a large issue, but there are many ideas about how to reach a solution, and what a solution should look like. Delegates from Haiti, Tanzania, Ecuador and more countries seem to agree that a treaty is necessary as a first step towards peace. The morning session focused mainly on the treaty and it’s moving parts, and what would realistically be best for the middle east.

Delegates had two main questions about the treaty: to keep/modify what is in place or make a new treaty and how to enforce either option. Countries wonder if they should keep the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) that is currently in place. The purpose of this treaty is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and promote using nuclear energy in a peaceful way. Another option discussed is to order a new document that is similar to the Treaty of Tadulako. Cambodia and Mexico propose a new treaty based upon international cooperation, while Sri Lanka looks favorably on smaller organizations. A third party moderator is also considered to ensure countries obey the content of the proposed treaty. Germany also proposed a treaty, and the delegate explained a three pronged plan that consists of establishing a multilateral nuclear weapon sharing agreement, restriction on nuclear sharing materials, and creating a control system and verification. Germany has seen something like this done before, and believes it could be useful again.

Delegates have also considered what would be best for the middle east. Many countries argue that nuclear weapons are a global issue that affects everyone, whereas Afghanistan urges other countries to focus on the middle east specifically. Mexico invites all middle eastern countries to speak up and debate. The Netherlands brought up power dynamics throughout the world. The delegate adds that if we take nuclear weapons from the Middle East, they might be at a disadvantage as other countries surrounding the middle east would still have nuclear weapons. Another question up for debate recently is the question of removing nuclear weapons vs promoting transparency and controlling them.  Countries such as Afghanistan wonder if it is even possible to remove all nuclear weapons, and believe the best option is to try to control them as much as possible. More ideas will come in the afternoon session, and these ideas will continue to develop.

UNSC Unifies

By: Ash K. Srivastava

The world watches as the 1992 UNSC attempts to rewrite history by preventing both the deaths of tens of thousands of Yugoslavians and the humiliation of the UNSC due to inaction and ineffective solutions, as well as severe peacekeeper misconduct. (BBC News) Luckily, the UNSC is mostly united in their task. In the words of the delegate from New Zealand, “all of us are on the same page.” After New Zealand’s remark, China noted that, as a communist nation, they are opposed to some measures about free and fair elections, however they are going to “try and put those aside.” The biggest disagreement seemed to be over whether the term “ethnic cleansing” should be used instead of “mass genocide,” with the delegate from the United States later privately commenting that “the events referred to by ‘ethnic cleansing’ are no cleansing, but rather inhumane war crimes.” This disagreement was quickly skipped over in favor of delegates stating their countries’ positions on possible “ethnic cleansing,” with all delegates who spoke stating their firm opposition and possible solutions, including a stand-in government run by “democratically stable countries” (New Zealand) and deployment of peacekeepers. However, no matter how united they are, the UNSC is facing a time crunch. The Yugoslavian government has already decided to hold a referendum in two weeks, so it is up to the UNSC to attempt to protect this election and institute other measures beforehand. Unfortunately, no delegate from Russia was present. However, the other four permanent members (France, United States, United Kingdom, and China), along with a majority of other members, are attempting to compromise on a resolution to ensure a quick and efficient response. A resolution is currently being written and members anticipate introducing it by the end of the second committee session today.

Works Cited

BBC News. “Balkans War: A Brief Guide.” BBC News, 18 Mar. 2016, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17632399.

The Real Times People of the Year: MUNUM Staff!

By: Bella Kephart

It is an understatement that MUNUM XXXIII is a smashing success. Putting on an amazing conference like this one is no easy feat, however. It takes a lot of vision, hard work, and focus from the whole team: the Secretariat, the Under-Secretary General, Secretariat Assistants, Directors, Assistant Directors, and Rapporteurs. Here’s a little peek behind-the-scenes at the people that made it all happen. 

Interrogation Questions: 

1. Why did you choose to become a part of MUNUM Staff?

2. Do you have any previous Model UN experience?

3. What is the most stressful part of your job?

4. What is the most fun part of your job?

5. What types of people would you recommend for this job?

6. What is your major?

7. Does your phone have a gender? If so, what is it?

Victim #1: Ryan Jansen, Secretary of Programming

Meet Ryan Jansen, a sophomore double-majoring in Political Science and Philosophy with slick Warby Parker glasses. Model UN is something that has been really important to him all throughout high school, and he was excited to help provide this amazing experience to others. He would say the most stressful part of his job is making sure the conference meets their pledge goal for United World Schools, and when things unexpectedly go wrong (a general trend throughout the staff). The best part is getting to hang out with the rest of the staff. In order to do his job, Ryan doesn’t recommend any specific type of person for his job, but he does recommend that you have an honest passion and dedication for whatever you want to do. Ryan’s phone does not have a gender. 

Victim #2: Sofia Urban, Secretariat Assistant

Next up we have Sofia Urban, a freshman studying Biopsychology, Neuroscience, and Cognition. Sofia has been participating in Model UN since her freshman year in high school, and she loved having the opportunity to empower students and talk about real issues. The most stressful part of her job is its ambiguous nature, and having to fill in wherever she’s needed and think on her toes. With that being said, her favorite part of her job is filling in for rapporteurs in various committees. In order to be a good Secretariat Assistant, Sofia recommends being flexible, focused, and task-oriented, as well as conscious of the big picture. Sofia’s phone is a female, and is her soul sister.

Victim #3: Charles Rinderle, Under-Secretary General of Crisis

Although I’m convinced that Charles is secretly CIA, he claims to be an ordinary junior studying Russian and Romance Language & Literature, with a minor in Ukrainian. He joined Model UN as a freshman in high school, and has also participated on the Model UN travel team. He sometimes gets stressed out by all the random crises he has to deal with, but loves having a hand in every pot and getting to be a crisis actor for all of the crisis committees. His phone does not have a gender.

Victim #4: Kelly Higgins, Director of International Press Corps

Everyone, meet my boss lady, Kelly. Kelly is a junior studying Political Science and Environment. Kelly also participated in Model UN all throughout high school, and when she got to college it was the first club she wanted to join. The most stressful part of her job was the first day of the committee. “I felt like I had no idea what I was doing, and I wanted to be respected but also approachable,” she explained. Her favorite part was getting to know all of the delegates and the staff. This staff LOVES people. In order to be a director, Kelly recommends having charisma, crisis management abilities, and leadership and (some) organizational skills. Kelly’s phone does not have a gender, but her car is a female named Rachel Green.

Victim #5: Hannah Kuriakose, Assistant Director of International Press Corps

Introducing Hannah, a junior studying International Studies, Environment, and Writing. Hannah joined Model UN when her and her friend were looking for a club that pertained to international affairs. She was most stressed during the first day of conference when delegates were churning out articles and she had to edit quickly. However, she absolutely loved getting to meet everyone and watching each edition of The Working Paper come together. Her phone also does not have a gender, but her car does.

Victim #6: Delaney Dahlstrom, Rapporteur for International Press Corps

             Lastly, we have Delaney, a junior studying English. Delaney was first pulled into the Model UN vortex when her friend Grace recommended it, saying how her writing background would be a perfect fit in IPC. Her biggest worry was making sure the MUNUM conference was a good balance between a learning experience and a good time for delegates. She loved getting to know everyone. In order to be a good rapporteur, Delaney recommends having fast and efficient editing skills, good communication skills (especially with young adults) and the ability to work well as a group. Delaney’s phone is a boy.

Thank you to ALL of the MUNUM XXXIII staff for making this conference possible. All of you are amazing, intelligent human beings and all of the delegates are so grateful for all the work you have put in. We appreciate you!

Begone Kids, Go Away

By: Jasmine Jacobs

The delegates of British House of Commons are working hard this Sunday morning with nine working papers introduced. Each paper posed unique solutions for rebuilding Britain's economy and society. The first paper to be introduced was “Redact Dem Kids Bro” which defines kids as “gross and generally useless…”barely citizens”. “Redact Dem Kids Bro” firmly enforces the exile of all kids in Britain to Australia supervised by Ser William Morrison and Stafford Cripps. The children may return to the “mainland upon their 18th birthday” so they may repopulate Britain.  

Not all people agree that kids are “useless” but the delegates though ahead, in clause two it states “Bars all protesting of this bill, whining about this bill, crying over their loss of their tiny trash humans”. 

The Prime Minister of Britain Clement Attlee was receiving negative complaints from numerous delegates and could not handle the pressure so he decided it was best to step down from his position before stepping down he gave a well deserved speech to help encourage all the delegates and say his farewells.

Sick of it All

By: Sönke Pietsch

After extensively deliberating communicable diseases and organ transplants, it seems as if the delegates have yet another problem on their hands, that wasn’t even mentioned on the MUNUM background guide: “brain deadness”. Luckily, a handful of delegates as well as chairs have jumped right into action to aid their fellow representatives. 

First to the rescue were two members of the dais - with the performance of a second hand show of Jedis fighting, a spinoff that had the whole committee laughing. After this spectacular spectacle, the delegates from Canada and Hungary blessed the committee with an interesting version of High School Musical’s “Breaking Free”, even reacting the opening scene. Not to go unnoticed, the delegate of Jamaica strolled to the front of his room to present to an alternative version of the Gettysburg Address.

Not to go unchallenged, the delegates from Israel, Canada and Hungary quickly followed suit and introduced a resolution to change the Kazakhstan’s name to “Quackastan”. The reason you ask? Kazakhstan is too hard to pronounce. Having made this institutional change, the delegates from Australia, Russia and Vietnam felt a rising sense of jealousy and turned in their version of a “working paper”. In line with what this committee has turned into, they suggested that delegate of Australia become a member of the dias only to “just sit there”.

With the number of chairs greater by one, the new team decided to round out the session by performing a spectacular version of Bohemian Rhapsody. Matching in pitch and intonation, it can clearly be said that these chairs knew what they were doing, at least when it came to singing. The fate of their other responsibilities is yet to be decided. 

A Short Summary of Events

By: Jane Swartz

5. Mini-Pete Buttigeig 

We’ve all seen him. He looks like a younger Pete Buttigeig. That’s honestly all I have to say here.

4. James Bond

Discussions of spies arose in the Security Council, prompting the United Kingdom to bring in their top man: James Bond. He joined the fray on Friday night, and topped it off with a wig and a Russian accent.

3. The Fifteen-Page Directive

Mexican Independence moved onto the Constitution-building half of their session, and confusion ensued as the husband of the deceased Mariana Rodriguez del Toro had written a fifteen page directive on how to format the new government. This was then simplified to two pages because it was too hard to understand.

2. ADHOC Inquisition

Suspicions of foul play involved in the Better Napalm leak prompted the committee to conduct an inquisition on six of those in the room. And when did it happen? Around twenty minutes before the dinner break, delegates flying into a frenzy of questioning. If you heard yelling on the third floor, it was definitely them.

1. Pedro’s Happy Birthday Candy Grams

Everyone knows about Candy Grams, one of the charity fundraisers. You pay a dollar, and you get to send someone, friends, chairs, or advisors, a little note and a piece of candy. Most people get one or two, but Pedro Sanchez, of the International Olympic Committee, received two orange envelopes full of them on his birthday, Sunday. This unusually high volume was the result of a collaborative effort from many delegates at the conference, originally spread by those from Pedro’s school, Kalamazoo Central.

To Nationalize or To Privatize

By: Sönke Pietsch

In an age when every decision, every idea, every word seems to have a consequence of some sort, the importance of the decisions our representatives make can be hard to overstate. One contested and constantly resurfaced aspect is whether to privatize industries or nationalize. Answering this question for each sector of our economy is challenging at best, and close to possibly impossible in reality. 

Evaluating the condition a country is in, considering the size of the proposed sector being privatized or nationalized, to understanding the public perception of each option, an answer that satisfies everyone is not easy to come by, exemplifying the many challenges faced by representatives in this decision-making process. However, the process of answering this question does not end there. One needs to consider the constantly evolving changes that all industries face in the 21st century — a policy that is made today may not be a policy that suffices tomorrow, and thus, requires constant revisions.

After extensive debate about which option wins the upper hand, the delegates of the International Press Corps have come to a conclusion: no conclusion. The sheer number of variables to consider when making such influential decisions would make for the perfect Model UN conference: one aspect for every committee to discuss in detail, with plenty left to spare. 

However, using just a few industries as a frame for a broader discussion, one can delve deeper into the topic to truly examine what industries are best suited for privatization and which are better left to be nationalized. Starting with the current, hot-topic of health care, the Working Paper writers have concluded that this industry is better left off without an answer — at least one that is either solidly in the privatization or nationalization camp. Instead, leaving health care as a cocktail of both private and national interests leaves consumers with the best aftertaste. Modeled after the French health care system, having a national-payer system provide the imperative care necessary for all citizens is quite effective as individuals are also granted the choice to opt for private health care at any time. Allowing these two systems to live in harmony has given the people of France the greatest choice of any European country, and has made the French some of the healthiest in all of Europe while simultaneously keeping expenses low. 

While this may have worked for health care, it is necessary to understand that the French model of combining the two systems of private and national industry only works under a special set of circumstances. If public, government-backed healthcare had suffered from a poor public image at the time of nationalization, then the act of doing so without a doubt would have failed. 

Another industry has faced a similar dilemma: public housing. As mentioned in national newsreel highlights, to being featured in Lil Scrappy's “Livin’ In The Projects,” government-backed housing has not been portrayed nor received as a positive public image. Seen as second-class by some, it is clear that this industry is best left in the hands of private corporations. By understanding private consumer preferences and having the resources to individualize and customize houses, privatization of the housing industry can meet its needs to a much greater extent than any national entity ever could. 

However, if one were to ask a European this same question at the end of World War 2, hearing the answer of the “private industry” would have been nearly impossible. This is due in part to the variables needed, but difficult to grasp during this time: quick action, extensive funding, and comprehensive planning. After European citizens were welcomed by a pile of rubble and ash as their form of housing, only a nationalized industry acted quickly, and without the greed of private corporations, to prevent the possible greatest outbreak of homelessness in human history. While nationalization acted in a timely manner in this instant, the opposite is also true about this option in regard to the payment system.

In this manner, a nationalized system was considered highly ineffective. Discussed and elaborated upon in the back rooms of the newspaper, having a national banking system with a singular player would come dangerously close to the idea of communism, all while ineffectively serving each individual (in a timely matter). By treating every citizen the same financially,  the incentive of working vanishes, resulting in a greater slowdown in productivity in all other sectors. 

Yet again, under a different set of circumstances, choosing a different answer between privatization and nationalization could have easily been equally valid. As has been evident, the opinions reached by this special committee are highly divisive all the while alternative reasoning could easily explain why another choice may be better suited. The decisions we make today may not be the correct ones for tomorrow but in the end, all we can do is elect the best representatives we deem fit as every decision, every idea and every word they choose, does directly impacts us. 

Top Three OTPs at MUNUM

By: Charlotte Howald

Couple: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York & Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania

Committee: U.S. House of Representatives

Nominated by: Grace Meng of New York

Reason: Both representatives are achieving their dreams and both proudly walk to the beat of their own drum.

Confirmed?: Yes! 

Quote: “We’re both beautiful people and the hottest people in the House.” - Fitzpatrick

“We really work well together as a team. We have great ideas and are very compatible.” - Cortez

Couple: Wendell Hulcher (Mayor of Ann Arbor) & Arthur F. Brandstatter (Chair of the Police Administration Department

Committee: Ad-Hoc

Nominated by: Dr. Robert Elderfield (Head of Committee on Research Politics)

Reason: [The couple] does a lot of suspicious work together. 

Confirmed?: Yes!

Couple: Raúl Roa García (Minister of Foreign Affairs) & Elena Mederos (Minister of Social Welfare)

Committee: Castro’s Cabinet

Nominated by: Ernesto “Che” Guevara (Governor of the Central Bank)

Reason: Getting Married

Confirmed?: Yes! Marriage was at 11 am this morning at a Casino.

Quote? “I want to divorce my husband, I have fallen deeply in love with one of my cabinet members, Raúl Roa. I have written many love letters and made flirty glances at him which are being reciprocated. I want the Divorce Papers NOW.” - Mederos

The Hot Seat

By: Jane Swartz

It’s 1969, and the board of the University of Michigan is dealing with an ongoing crisis involving the government’s use of Napalm research in the university’s facilities. A new chemical weapon has emerged: “Better Napalm.” Consistent with its naming, Better Napalm does everything Napalm does, just better. A leak in its containment has caused the water in Ann Arbor to become polluted, this pollution specifically affecting lower income areas. No deaths are yet known, nor are the effects of Better Napalm, but the city has been placed under a state of emergency by the mayor, Wendell E. Hulcher.

The immediate issue at hand is clear. How could they prevent the spread of Better Napalm throughout all of Ann Arbor, and contaminating the city’s water? And how would they help the near 10,000 citizens living in affected areas? Some board members wanted to stop research immediately, while others suggested to begin research on possible biological effects of Better Napalm, as drinking normal Napalm causes almost immediate death. Others were more involved in an investigation directed towards the cause of the leak, especially since foul play is suspected. 

Those under watchful eyes were Bill Ayers, a student activist, and Geoffrey Norman, the vice president of research at the plant. The two were both linked to being at the research facility around the time of the leak. Ayers was placed there due to an unnamed source of Wesley Fishel, who reported to have seen someone with a similar appearance to Ayers on the grounds. Norman, who presented immediate support behind stopping research of both Napalms and beginning an investigation of the leak, was deposed by the research president, Robert Elderfield, although the latter offered no comment as to why. All three were placed into an inquisition by the committee, a fast-paced questioning session followed by a vote on whether or not to remove the person from the room. None were convicted. 

Other members who were suspected were the chair of police administration Arthur F. Brandstatter, and Robert Briggs, a University regent. Both were involved in sending arms to South Vietnamese forces to support those fighting. As Brandstatter stated, he never supplied any illegal arms, instead using his own personal connections with the Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, to send arms to those fighting for South Vietnam. In addition to his link with Brandstatter, Briggs raised suspicions involving the press. He was reported to have attempted to bribe South Vietnamese forces for a statement, and when they refused the money, he gave misinformation to the press. Similar to the preceding pair, Briggs and Brandstatter were questioned in an inquisition, and were allowed to stay in the room.

Marshall Sahlins was put in the hot seat as well for his loud, anti-war protests. Over the course of the committee, the professor of Anthropology had committed several “treasonous” actions, accused by Fishel. He had organized a “die-in,” a protest that involved participants lying down in front of a building to prevent anyone from going inside. Sahlin also abused his power as a professor to make a political statement, raising concerns from most present. While strictly anti-war, he had reported students in his department with GPAs of 0.0, making them eligible for the draft, calling it an “equal chance to go and die.” Following Sahlin’s inquisition, the committee voted. In a decision of 11-0, Sahlin was removed from the room.