Committees
*Clicking on the name of the committee will bring you to its briefing paper*
Beginner
The Geopolitical Effect of AI
We understand that this committee may be your first Model United Nations experience, and we hope that you are as excited as we are! The briefing paper is long, but this should not cause fear! All it means is that there is more information given to you as delegates which will minimize the amount of research you have to do. The topic of this committee is the geopolitical effects of artificial intelligence, which is becoming increasingly prevalent in our contemporary society. With the constant advancements being made in the field of artificial intelligence, there are pros and cons that can arise from implementing these systems onto the national and global spectrum. After rounds of debate, delegates will discuss how to arrive at a reasonable and sustainable multilateral solution that works effectively to ensure that artificial intelligence does not negatively impact international affairs.
Chair: Gabriel Gracies
Co-Chair: Aarav Patel
Sustainable Growth and Environmental Stewardship
In today's rapidly evolving world, economic growth is often challenged by the desire to protect the environments that are being affected. Delegates are challenged to find strategies that foster economic growth while preserving natural resources and mitigating climate change. This committee will address the critical issue of balancing these competing interests. Delegates will be assigned roles either advocating for robust economic development, or strict environmental protection and must propose actionable solutions that strive to achieve a sustainable balance between economic prosperity and environmental protection.
Chair: Ryan Pergola
Co-Chair: Kirpal Rayat
The Issue Regarding Child Labor
In the SOCHUM committee, delegates will discuss the issue regarding illegal and forced child labor. For centuries, illicit child labor has been prevalent and no solution has been found due to the wide array of intricacies found in the industry. Students are required to use their problem-solving skills to find a solution that benefits their own country and the greater global community. Compromises will need to be made and students will need to cooperate with other delegates in order to prosper. As this is a beginner committee, delegates are welcome to speak freely and to learn the skills required to succeed in Model UN. Delegates are encouraged to research beforehand and are required to write a position due the day before the conference.
Chair: Kyle Rajapakse
Co-Chair: Rishik Paluri
Organized Crime in Latin America
This committee will focus on the intense political climate, grueling economic conditions, and violent conflict that surrounds organized crime in Latin America. Centuries of crime syndicates have numbed the general populace of first-world countries to the plight of the underprivileged suffering from the tyranny of gangs. Delegates will delve into the intercontinental connections of organized crime, the highly profitable drug trade, and how corrupt governments fail impoverished people. A lack of transparency, accountability, and oversight has led to a vicious cycle that the international community has only now chosen to address. Informing yourself on your nation’s history with the issue, thoughts on state sovereignty, progressive change policies, and current domestic organized crime situation will lead to success in this committee.
Chair: Manav Guttalapalli
Co-Chair: Arush Patel
Intermediate
The Cuban Embargo
The SJMUNC XXXVII LEGAL committee will be centered around the international precedent set by the Cuban Embargo. Many countries claim that the Cuban Embargo goes against international law and the Charter of the United Nations. In this intermediate committee, our experienced delegates will be challenged to decide the legitimacy of those claims and write a solution that addresses those who question the legality of the Cuban Embargo.
Chair: Aden Murray
Co-Chair: Sean Connor
Refining the
US Educational System
In the SENATE committee for SJMUNC XXXVII, delegates will become members of the United States Senate, trying to improve the United States Educational System. This is a fiction-based committee topic, so it is a great way to show your imagination and create a unique solution. SENATE is one of our intermediate committees, so only delegates with some sort of Model UN experience should participate in this committee. However, this committee is still a way for delegates to learn, so be prepared to make and learn from mistakes.
Chair: Ronan Davis
Co-Chair: Vineeth Gangidi
The Stolen Flame of Olympus
This deeply philosophical committee requires delegates who can think critically and debate strongly about their ideological differences. The primordial titan Prometheus has stolen the ability to create fire from the Olympian gods and gifted it to humanity. His “crime” was under the justification that in terms of technological advancement, humanity has been stuck at a standstill. With fire comes metallurgy which is the ability to forge metal into either weapons or or tools. This is to say, the power of fire could be used for the betterment of the world or for its destruction creating a big blazing question that must be answered: Are humans inherently good or evil? Delegates must prepare to debate about existential natures and ideological values as they must further the progress of humanity or force them to stay content with how far they have gotten without the use of fire. Before the session, delegates should know who their fellow members of the committee are, who they will be debating against, and have a moral standing point to reach back to when all else fails. To prepare delegates for this, we will be mandating a position paper due the morning of the session. For more information about the topic, refer to the briefing paper to the left.
Chair: Nishan Shaik
Co-Chair: Jasratan Chopra
North Korea Nuclear Weapons Development
North Korea's continued development of nuclear weapons poses a significant threat to global security. This unique but contemporarily relevant topic is sure to spark interesting discourse concerning international denuclearization and the military development rights of independent nations. This issue has different implications for different countries, particularly those bordering North Korea, and is approachable from various lenses, which will facilitate optimal debate. This topic requires adequate preparation prior to committee. It is prepared delegates who will truly bring their solutions to life.
Chair: Nathan Rezk
Co-Chair: Gabriel Mercado-Lubo
Advanced
The First Crusade
A fast-paced committee that requires delegates to be cunning, strategic, and prepared to be backstabbed. Pope Urban II has just issued a declaration for all Christians to recapture the Holy Land after a petition for help from Eastern Roman Emperor Alexios I. Now, kings, peasants, and everyone in between have taken up the call of DEUS VULT. However, the Emperor wants ALL conquered lands returned to his empire, and many of the Christian lords and kings despise each other. In order to recapture the land that Jesus himself once walked, delegates will have to navigate the logistical challenges of such a crusade, conflicts between Orthodox and Catholic interests, rivalries and noble feuds, and most of all, the coming conflict with the current occupiers of the land. Before the committee, delegates should know who all their fellow committee members are, who they have scores to settle with, who owes who favors and should have a basic plan of action ready to go. This will require research outside the committee on a delegate's part, preferably with prepared notes. For more information, see the briefing paper to the left.
Chair: Lawson Mitchell
Co-Chair: Alex Krolewski
The First Crusade
This fast-paced Joint Crisis Committee (JCC) challenges delegates to be cunning, strategic, and ready for betrayal. Pope Urban II has issued a call for all Christians to retake the Holy Land after Eastern Roman Emperor Alexios I’s plea for aid. Now, kings, peasants, and knights have rallied under the banner of Deus Vult (“God wills it”). But alliances among Christian lords are fragile at best, with Byzantine and Catholic interests clashing, and old noble feuds simmering beneath the surface. The Christians must not only face the logistical nightmare of waging a Crusade but also deal with the inevitable infighting.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, the Muslim defenders stand firm. They must protect their lands, navigate internal tensions, and strategize in the face of this massive, motivated enemy force. Both sides will need to balance delicate alliances, engage in diplomacy, and prepare for decisive military action.
Delegates should come prepared with extensive knowledge of the key players in the conflict, knowing their enemies, their allies, and their rivals. They must also anticipate potential betrayals and shifting alliances, creating contingencies and forming strategies. To be effective, participants will need to conduct thorough research before the committee begins, utilizing notes, historical data, and tactical insights. For more information, refer to the briefing paper provided.
Chair: Ronan Pigeaud
Co-Chair: Aryan Modi
In SJMUNC’s inaugural Ad-Hoc, students will be thrust into a fast-paced, ever-evolving crisis environment. Delegates will remain in the dark about the topic of the crisis until the day before the conference. We encourage only experienced delegates to register for this committee. Unlike standard committees with a generic structure, the Ad-Hoc committee will foster dynamic debates and innovative, cutting-edge approaches.
Chair: Omkar Vaddi
Co-Chair: Aarav Jain