Crisis

Dear LabMUN Delegates, 

We are thrilled to have you join us for LabMUN. As the crisis staff, our goal is to make your committee an engaging and hands-on experience.

INTRODUCTION TO CRISIS COMMITTEES

If you are new to crisis committees, here's a brief overview: crises are event-based updates that introduce dynamic elements into committee sessions. They often involve time-sensitive developments such as global hostilities, breakdowns in diplomatic relationships, political assassinations, or refugee situations. These crises require delegates to respond quickly and creatively.

At LabMUN, our Crisis Staff will implement these crises to challenge and surprise delegates, prompting innovative problem-solving. Some crises may specifically target the actions of individual delegates or the person or country they represent. Additionally, crisis elements like elections and trials may lead to scenarios where normal debate is replaced by processes tailored to these events. Crises can alter the course of a committee, often resulting in new debates or controversies to address in resolutions. 

CRISIS NOTES

In crisis committees, delegates represent members of cabinets, organizations, governments, and more, with each delegate holding specific duties and powers, referred to as "portfolio powers." For example, a delegate representing a foreign minister can communicate directly with other foreign ministers.

Delegates exercise their portfolio powers by submitting crisis notes to their committee’s crisis staff. These notes are written on a legal pad known as a crisis pad. Crisis notes serve as a means of communication with the crisis staff, helping shape the future direction and content of committee crises.

Delegates can submit detailed descriptions of the actions they wish to undertake, which may relate to an ongoing crisis or align with a strategic plan. The LabMUN crisis staff reviews these directives and informs delegates whether their proposed actions have been implemented.

CRAFTING EFFECTIVE NOTES

Crisis notes should be:

• Detailed: Clearly outline the proposed actions and their intended impact.

• Well-thought-out: Demonstrate strategic thinking and consideration of potential outcomes.

• Feasible: Ensure that the actions are realistic within the context of the committee.

• Creative: Employ innovative approaches to influence or drive the committee's direction.

Creative use of portfolio powers is crucial for resolving crises and advancing debate. Such directives are highly regarded by the LabMUN crisis staff.

RULES

When crafting directives, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Discriminatory Content: Any arcs containing sexist, racist, homophobic, Islamophobic, antisemitic, or other discriminatory themes violate LABMUNC’s Delegate Code of Conduct and are strictly forbidden. This includes not only outright mentions, but also any content that implicitly or indirectly invokes harmful stereotypes or insensitively portrays these issues.

• Delegate-Driven Killings: In keeping with LABMUNC’s mission to teach delegates the merits of diplomacy, delegates will not be permitted to arrange assassinations, executions, or any other form of killings, especially against civilians. Crisis updates that replicate historical events may include death, but delegates will not be able to execute these killings themselves through their crisis notes or arc.

• Modern Slavery: Modern slavery—including human trafficking, forced labor, and any form of exploitation resembling slavery—is not permitted as a topic. Often less visible than historical forms, modern slavery involves the severe exploitation of other people for personal or commercial gain.

• COVID and Biological Warfare: Given the recent global impact and sensitivity surrounding COVID-19 and biological warfare, these topics are not permitted in our simulations. Biological warfare refers to the use of biological agents (such as viruses, bacteria, other disease-causing organisms, or toxins) as weapons to cause harm or death to humans, animals, or plants.

• Assassinations of Committee Members: We do not allow arcs involving the assassination of committee members, since this can detract from the educational purpose of the conference.

• Sexual Content: Any form of sexual content is strictly prohibited in our conference. This includes explicit references, discussions, or portrayals of sexual acts, innuendos, or any other sexually suggestive material.

• Drug-Related Scenarios: Arcs involving illegal drugs are not allowed.

• Ethnic Cleansing: Ethnic cleansing involves the systematic and forced removal of ethnic or religious groups from a given territory by a more powerful ethnic group, often involving violence and violation of human rights. Ethnic cleansing is associated with grave human rights abuses and atrocities, and therefore, is not permitted.

• Colonialism: Due to its intense and traumatic nature, colonialism is not allowed in Crisis Arcs. 

Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in the rejection of personal directives and may impact award selections.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Finally, if this is your first time participating in Model UN or crisis, or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your chairs or crisis staff. We understand the challenges of navigating parliamentary procedure, speaking publicly, or drafting crisis notes without much experience. We are here to provide resources and advice, either during the conference or via email beforehand.

Best regards,

Raza Zaidi, Crisis Manager 

rzaidi@ucls.uchicago.edu