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Showing posts from February, 2023

Tips for Giving Speeches in Crisis

 Hi Delegates, Hope your prep for BMUN is going well! With the conference coming up so soon, we wanted to give you some tips for how to give speeches, particularly how to give speeches in crisis committees. Speeches are your most used tool in the frontroom, so it is essential that you use them well! 1. Speak frequently!!! Crisis committees are much smaller compared to GA committees with around 20-30 delegates in a room. This means that you will have the opportunity to speak way more often, and you should take advantage of this! Your placard should always be raised if you haven’t spoken in a caucus, and if it seems like not enough people want to speak to finish the caucus, try to speak again (as long as you aren’t annoying your chairs)! 2. Impact over eloquence. Because you are speaking so frequently, and because crisis requires constant adaptation, it is less important to give a speech that is beautiful and more important to make a splash with what you say. Use your speeches to ste...

Approaches for Writing Directives

  Hello Delegates! As you all begin preparing for committee, I wanted to give some tips on ways to approach the topic and spearhead ways to solve the incoming crisis that you all will be posed with. These tips will be general, so make sure to consider how they play into your character’s stance and your overarching crisis arc. As a note, these tips will be very relevant to the beginning of committee, but due to the ever-changing nature of crisis, may not be the main focus for the entirety of conference!  Nature of the War: The nature of this war is unlike that of what one would typically expect. Rather than battles occurring between both sides, there are instead strategic attacks that prompt reactions. The FLN had a successful victory in the recent past, the Philippeville Massacres, though it led to violent reactions from the French. Consider how the existing nature of the war will play into the actions that you will take moving forward, both in frontroom and backroom. Are the...

International Relations Post Independence

Hello Delegates, Conference is coming up, and we hope you're just as excited as we are! As you write your position papers and learn more about your characters, we wanted to continue to bring in some outside sources that you find insightful.   While our committee focuses on the Algerian Revolution's timeline directly, it is also important to consider these events in the broader scope of European colonialism. In Algeria, as in most other post-colonial countries, the transition to an independent state is rarely a smooth process and there are long lasting socioeconomic, political, and cultural impacts. I found this article on the Algeria-Europe economic integration interesting, especially the beginning which provides some insights to Algeria's international relations immediately after the war. There are many factors that go into a country's decisions on foreign policy. As noted in the article, Algeria mostly distanced itself from Europe, understandably so as Algeria recove...

Key Terms and Takeaways from the Background

Hello Delegates! We just wanted to share some Key Terms and information with you that we find important to this topic and the preparation that you all are doing leading up to the weekend of the conference. We hope these terms help solidify your research and give you more confidence for committee! Colonization: the process of one country or entity settling and/or establishing control over the indigenous people in the area. France colonized Algeria in the 1830s in which they established Algeria to be an integral part of France.  Nationalism: The advocacy for political independence and self determination of a nation. Nationalism in Algeria started progressing in the 1920s by the Muslims in French Algeria because of decades of religious destruction and the North African Star movement in 1926. These views continued to increase in the 1940s after WWII as more Algerian Muslims who supported assimilation joined the movement for independence.  Pied Noirs: Refers to the European settl...

Procedure and Committee Flow

  Hi Delegates! I wanted to check in with you to provide some more insight to how our committee is going to work at BMUN 71. JCC will be using Crisis BMUN Procedure. Procedure   Our committee(s) will use standard BMUN crisis procedure. From our collective experience as chairs, we believe that this procedure is the best method to promote thoughtful debate while also enabling the dynamic nature of crisis committees. This procedure also lends itself to our committees in that delegates will be representing members of a sort of cabinet or alliance that must discuss and debate on what  collective actions to take as a united front while also getting regular updates to the situation of Algeria.  For those of you not familiar with BMUN or crisis procedure, I'll give a brief overview here. Crisis committees at BMUN use similar procedures to General Assembly committees with some key differences. We will facilitate discussion in committee with moderated and unmoderated caucuses,...

Directives: How-To Guide

  Hey, delegates! We hope you’re super excited for JCC BMUN 71! As you start to finalize your research on your characters and position paper, we recognize that using your research effectively will help produce great directives. We are here to provide some food for thought on what a strong directive may look like and important ideas to keep in mind when formulating directives during committee.  First of all, what is a directive? A directive is a statement or plan of action taken by a committee or individual that typically responds to a crisis update. Directives are the most common type of deliverable seen in crisis committees, and there are multiple types of directives you will encounter in crisis (e.g. private, public, joint).  Directives should contain points made during committee and aspects regarding the most recent crisis update. What makes a good directive? Broadly speaking, a strong directive should encompass a few key elements: Should be specific and action-oriente...

Rhetoric of Revolution - Discussion Post

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Hi delegates! There are just two more weeks until BMUN 71, and I am super excited to meet you all! As I was doing more background research on the topic, I came across this article, The Algerian Revolution Changed the World for the Better ,  from the leftist political magazine Jacobin. The article has a lot of great information about peoples' sentiments during various points before, during, and after the war. It generally characterizes the initial war strategy as placing action over thought out rhetoric and ideology. Said ideology was really only given form, the article argues, by Franz Fanon later into the decade.  In addition to generally outlining the transformation of rhetoric about the war, the article also explains how the rhetoric differed depending on population. Particularly, and most obviously, the native Algerian population talked about the war much differently than the French--either those within France or those in Algeria.  After you read the article, I highly...

Position Paper Tips

Hi delegates! Just wanted to check in and offer a bit more guidance on your position papers. As a reminder, JCC will be using crisis Position Paper format detailed on our committee page on the BMUN website. Besides the general format, we wanted to offer some tips on the research process and the formation of your paper.  Research The biggest favor you can do for yourself in the writing process is to really apply time and effort into understanding the topics beforehand. Luckily, your generous dais has written the key to beginning this process: your synopsis! Not only do we recommend reading this synopsis, but we hope that you will interact with it. Ask questions, make connections, reflect on what you learned. Familiarizing yourself with the synopsis is the key to a smooth research experience.  After reading the synopsis, don’t stop there! This piece is just a stepping stone for the research we hope you will complete. Maybe read some additional case studies, look at some current...

Vice Chair Introduction: Alex Plewinski

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Hey delegates! My name is Alex Plewinski (he/him), and I'm super excited to be a vice chair for this year's JCC in the Algeria committee. I'm a junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.  This is my 6th year doing MUN and my 3rd year in BMUN. This is also my 3rd year as a member of JCC, which I was a vice chair for at BMUN 69 and head chair last year at BMUN 70. I currently serve as BMUN's crisis director, meaning I help support all crisis committees and chairs as well as manage our crisis procedure and keep it consistent and effective across our committees. Outside of BMUN, I'm a member of the Berkeley Formula Racing team, where I work on the Suspension subteam, and I play intramural dodgeball and volleyball with my friends. I also love watching UFC and basketball and hiking/backpacking. Please reach out to us at anytime at JCC@bmun.org if you have any questions at all. Looking forward to seeing you all so...

Vice Chair Introduction: Srisai Nachuri

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Hi everyone! My name is Srisai Nachuri (he/him), and I'm one of your Vice Chairs for JCC for BMUN 71! I'm currently a senior at Cal studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. I was born and raised in the Bay Area, so studying at Berkeley, I've pretty much been here my whole life. Nevertheless, I've greatly enjoyed my time at Berkeley and have been involved in many communities here including BMUN, research, and teaching. In my free time I enjoy playing basketball with friends, finding new trails to run on, and being in the outdoors. As a high school student, I was very involved with debate, and I truly value the educational value that MUN provides, including research skills and public speaking. This is my fourth conference chairing, and I'm always amazed by what delegates bring into committee! I hope this committee provides a fun, valuable experience and that you all have a memorable conference at BMUN. Best of luck and looking forward to meeting you all i...

Vice Chair Introduction: Ted Kim

Hello everyone! My name is Ted Kim (he/him) and I will be one of your vice chairs for BMUN 71's JCC! I am a sophomore studying computer science here at Berkeley, but I'm curious about different subjects like philosophy, math, and history. This is my first year in BMUN, but I've been doing MUN since my sophomore year of high school and I've also participated in BMUN as a delegate as well. I really enjoyed participating in MUN as a delegate throughout high school and it widened my perspective on a variety of global issues. Outside of BMUN, I'm part of Computer Science Mentors, a student organization which provides weekly tutoring for lower-division computer science courses here. In my free time, I enjoy watching TV, visiting museums, and trying out interesting food and dessert recipes. I hope you all have a great experience over the three days we'll be spending together in JCC, and I'm looking forward to seeing you all very soon!

JCC Welcome Post

Hi delegates! We are so excited to welcome you to BMUN 71 and the JCC: The Algerian War committee. My name is Aisha Gupta and I am very excited to be your JCC Head Chair for this year! In this post, I’ll be giving you an overview of this committee, as well as some logistical information! In this committee, you will be exploring the complexities behind the Algerian War in order to understand how it is taught and treated in the modern world. Our committee topic will involve debating and acting through the Algerian War as it is happening, starting in February of 1956. This blog will act as our committee’s more informal avenue for discussion and communication before the conference– and we’d love to see you interact with it! The purpose of this blog is to (1) allow you to actively engage with the content of this committee and (2) give you all the opportunity to learn about other countries’ policies before the debate actually starts. You can post comments on posts that we make and write abou...

Vice Chair Introduction: Angela Cooley

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Hi everyone! My name is Angela Cooley (she/her), and I will be one of your Vice Chairs for BMUN 71’s Joint Cabinet Crisis (JCC)! I am a third-year majoring in Legal Studies and minoring in Data Science. I was born and raised in SoCal (specifically Cerritos), and I’ve been involved in MUN since middle school, but this is my first year in BMUN!  At Cal, I am involved in C.R.E.A.T.E., where I help tutor creative writing to middle schoolers, and Pilipinx Academic Student Services, where I work to address Pilipinx representation in higher education. Some topics that I am interested in include sustainable infrastructure, public health policy, and developmental psychology. If these topics interest you as well, I love talking/learning about them more with others! In my free time, I love going on hikes around Berkeley and am also learning how to mix and produce music. Also, I'm a huge foodie, so if you need any food recs throughout the weekend, I’d love to offer some suggestions! I hope you...

Vice Chair Introduction: Taylor Lang

 Hey Delegates! My name is Taylor Lang (she/her) and I will be one of your vice chairs for Joint Cabinet Crisis (JCC) for BMUN 71! I am a first-year majoring in Environmental Economics & Policy and Sociology with a minor in Public Policy. I am from Huntington Beach, CA and I've been doing Model UN since my freshman year of high school! My favorite parts of MUN have always been chairing and doing crisis committees so I am so happy that I get to be apart of this committee. At Cal, I am apart of a dance organization called which is really great cause I get to continue doing what I loved doing in high school but in a more relaxed environment and I have met some of my best friends here through dance. I also have loved exploring Berkeley these past few months by going to new food spots with friends, hiking, and checking out local spots with friends! As a delegate, I did not start doing crisis committees till my senior year so I understand the differences can be intimidating but it is...

Head Chair Introduction: Aisha Gupta

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  Hello Delegates!  My name is Aisha and I will be your Head Chair for this year’s Joint Cabinet Crisis: The Algerian War (1954-1962) at BMUN LXXI! I look forward to meeting you all and hearing some lively debate about ways to manage this gruesome war!  I am currently a second year majoring in Data Science. I’ve been doing data consultancy work for the last few semesters, which I am immensely enjoying! Outside of school, I am involved in elementary and middle school outreach for girls in the STEM field, creating opportunities for them to learn coding and do hands- on science experiments. Model UN is one of my greatest passions. Having been attending conferences since 8th grade, I love getting to debate about niche topics and meet new people! Now I am very excited to be on the other side of this experience through BMUN! As someone who loves history, I decided that a historical crisis committee would be an amazing way to learn about a new historical topic and would create a...

Vice Chair Introduction: Riley Thompson

  Hi delegates!  My name is Riley Thompson (they/them), and I am one of the vice chairs for this year’s JCC. This is my second year in BMUN and third year at UC Berkeley. At Cal, I study Political Science, Rhetoric and Public Policy. Most of my academic work focuses on policy analysis, particularly in the youth engagement/youth voice fields. I’ve also dabbled in healthcare policy, so if you have any questions about those areas I love to chat about them. Outside of classes, I do work with an organization called Youth and Government, am on the Executive Committee for my residence hall, and do research here at Cal in the public health department. This will be my second year chairing for JCC in BMUN, and I’m incredibly excited to see all the incredible things you all do in our sessions! In addition to BMUN and school, I’m an avid Dungeons and Dragons player. The ‘yes-and-ing’ of D&D is very similar to crisis committees, and is what got me interested in crisis initially.  ...

Vice Chair Introduction: Megan Gramling

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 Hi Everyone! My name is Megan Gramling (she/her) and I will be one of your vice chairs for JCC for BMUN LXXI. I am currently a senior at Berkeley, majoring in Economics with a minor in Public Policy. This is my 8th year of MUN and my 4th year in BMUN. This will be my 4th year chairing for JCC and I'm very excited for our topic this year! Outside of BMUN, I love to hike, run, go to the beach, and travel.   I look forward to meeting you all at conference!