MUNE IX COMMITTEES

In the year 399BC, nearly two and a half thousand years ago, the man who gave birth to western philosophy as we know it was put to death for his teachings. This dramatic trial would go down in history as the prime example of the natural contention between the freedoms offered by philosophy and the desires of the state.  Delegates now have the opportunity to travel back in time and take part in this momentous historical event. In doing so, delegates will be faced with unique challenges and questions in their search for the answer to a question as old as time itself - what does the perfect life, and by extension, the perfect state, look like? Consequently, delegates in this committee will orchestrate the birth of philosophy as we know it, and the ideals which arguably define the way we live to this day. 

On June 30th of 2020, China passed new legislation over Hong Kong in the form of the National Security Law, which flies in the face of the previously established "one country two systems" model. With Hong Kong citizens pushing back against what they see as open aggression towards their way of life, this development presents a new set of challenges in the western world and its relationship with East Asia. As the world begins to call into question the exact nature of the rights of Hong Kong citizens in the eyes of the CCP, the economic and diplomatic relations between the west and the Peoples Republic of China stand to suffer. As a special body comprised of all interested parties, it will be the duty of this committee to tackle the profound consequences this situation will have on the whole contemporary world.

Throughout the 2000s, two sentiments prevailed over Wall Street: greed and self-service. There is no better way to recreate these two emotions than through a crisis committee. During the Great Recession, asset price swung wildly: mortgages failed, CDOs collapsed, and stock prices tanked. Delegates will hold these assets whose prices will be computer-simulated. These assets will be a delegate’s lifeline, allowing them to disrupt markets to increase wealth, bribe officials, and much more. With the nefariousness of Wall Street infused into the already impassioned nature of Model U.N., chaos will undoubtedly ensue, leading to a fast-paced and entertaining committee. 

This crisis committee is based on the Olympic committee deciding the details of the 2028 summer Olympic Games. Although less than a decade in the future, a lot has changed. The United States and China stand at odds in a new Cold war, which has resulted in a proxy war on the Korean peninsula. North Korean soldiers are operating under China’s authority, and South Korean armies are under de-facto U.S. control. The goal of this committee is to reinstate Ekecheiria, better known as the Olympic Truce, to prevent the proxy war from becoming World War III. The committee will navigate the morals of nuclear warfare and the ethics of human genetic engineering in an effort to uphold the core ideals of peace and prosperity through the most unique of methods.

Witness the rise of a Byzantine empress. In AD 780, Irene of Athens becomes the regent for her young son. Rumors swirl concerning the emperor's death and every day she’s taking harsher measures to solidify her reign. Will she give up the throne when her son is old enough to rule? A secret council of powerful aristocrats, military figures, and church leaders has been called together to assess the threat that Irene poses to the empire and the members of the court. Threatened by looming war, palace conspiracies, and fierce theological debates, who will rule the Byzantine empire at the end of the day? 

Fairness. Freedom. Fraternity; all words beginning with “F”, but none of these sparks as much controversy as the word “feminism” does. After all, what has spurred more debate than the issues of reproductive freedoms, equal pay, and LGBTQ+ rights. Now, imagine yourself in the 1970s, with the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment afoot. Prominent conservative activists have sprung onto the stage with progressive advocates to fight a cultural battle on the national level. In order to resolve substantial dissimilarities, the US Government has arranged a divided yet diverse task force to address feminist issues, all in the backdrop of the Vietnam War and Watergate. Will the taskforce determine that the only f-word allowed in America is family & faith, or will it embrace the message of feminists and push the ERA to ratification? 

In between a rock and a hard place, two figureheads in the big cat world are at odds. Delegates will find themselves amidst the decades-long rivalry of Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin, as depicted by the recent Netflix documentary. Along the road, they will have to face intrapersonal battles, interpersonal battles, legal battles, and more practical concerns surrounding exotic animal ownership, trade, business, abuse, as well as hostile work environments. The committee will be expected to decide whether these owners of big cats should keep their animals or that their so-called “parks” be shut down permanently. There is a lot at stake, and plenty of distractions to muddle the peace. What will you do?

This year MUNE's Ad-Hoc committee is brought to you by one of Emory's most experienced delegates and Crisis Directors: Emilio de la Mora. As his fourth and final Model United Nations at Emory, Emilio will be keen to end on a high note, leaving delegates with an Ad-Hoc experience they are not soon likley to forget! This year's Ad-Hoc aims to both inspire thought and provide an incredible MUN experience with a unique committee premise and committee objective. Join us in February 2021 to see what Emilio has in store for delegates this year!