uNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL, 1977
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Topic Summary
Welcome to 1977. Conflicts are raging all over the world while a globe-spanning proxy war poses an existential threat to humanity. Wars of independence are heating up in Eritrea, coups are being attempted in countries from the Seychelles to Bangladesh, and recessions have left the global economy reeling. Practically every corner of the globe has a question that requires the immediate attention of the Security Council. However, none are more pressing than [redacted] - the topic of the UNSC’s current session. Having begun on [redacted], immediately following [redacted], it has already caused an immense amount of chaos and [redacted]. It is the responsibility of the Security Council to ensure that the situation does not escalate further.
Welcome, delegates, to the United Nations Security Council, 1977. While the committee will function just as normal, you need to be prepared for anything. The specific topic will be revealed only 24 hours before the start of conference.
Director’s Letter
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to the United Nations Security Council, 1977 at Harvard National Model United Nations 2024.
My name is Arpit Bhate, and I am thrilled to be serving as your Director for the Security Council. I grew up in Bengaluru, India, and have been doing Model UN since the eighth grade (yes this is my 9th year doing MUN).
At Harvard, I am currently a washed up senior - I served as Head Delegate of Harvard’s Intercollegiate Model UN team (ICMUN) last year and was Undersecretary-General for the Specialized Agencies at HNMUN 2023. I also lead Harvard Model United Nations India (one of our Interntional Conferences) as Secretary General. In the rare moments that I am able to steal away from Model UN, you can usually find me furiously trying to finish an Applied Math problem set in the library, biking along the Charles River, or exploring whatever research project I’ve gotten sucked into this semester.
After my time as USG, I’m really excited to get back to Directing and run the Security Council with Sophia this February. The UNSC is probably my favorite committee on the circuit and we’ve decided to put a spin on the normal formula, which we’re calling a closed-topic committee. Rather than getting the topic and background guide months before conference, we plan to release them 24 hours before committee starts. We hope that this will allow you to explore the vast array of international issues in 1977 (and there are a lot of them) when doing your initial research, while adding to the pace of committee and realism of the simulation once you do get the topic.
I look forward to seeing all of you in February and excited to see how you respond to [REDACTED]
Best,
Arpit Bhate
Director
United Nations Security Council, 1977
Harvard National Model United Nations 2024
Crisis Director’s Letter
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to the Harvard National Model United Nations 2024 United Nations Security Council! I hope you’re as excited as I am.
My name is Sophia Weng and I will be your crisis director for this year’s HNMUN. I am a Senior studying Social Studies, with a focus on the philosophy of technology, and a minor in Mathematics. I am from just outside of Washington, D.C. in North Chevy Chase, Maryland. I began Model UN just my sophomore year of college on a whim! My friends on the Harvard competitive MUN team convinced me to try out, and so I signed up and joined the team. I competed in my first MUN conference in Fall 2021, and I have learned so much since then.
MUN became a major part of my life as I grew to become part of the Model UN community at Harvard. Two years ago, I served as an assistant director for the Zedillo Cabinet, 1994 committee at Harvard Model UN and the Advisors to the Antipope Committee at Harvard National Model UN. I also directed the Anti-Saloon League 1910 committee at HMUN and the Court of Suleyman the Magnificent at HNMUN last year. I’ve participated in MUN behind the dias and in front of it, and this year I’m looking forward to crisis directing the UNSC.
The Director of the UNSC will be the wonderful Arpit Bhate, an accomplished MUN Delegate and the former Undersecretary-General for the Specialized Agencies of Harvard National Model UN. Arpit is an experienced UNSC delegate, and I look forward to working with him to make this one as challenging and exciting as I know it can be. Arpit will make this committee fantastic, and I am looking forward to seeing what he comes up with. Together, he and I will work to create a committee that examines the historical moment and explores the challenges of the UNSC format to bring delegates into a unique experience that they will succeed in.
My goal for this committee is to challenge delegates while making sure that everyone has a great time. I hope in my capacity as Crisis Director, I can inspire delegates to be creative, collaborative, and innovative in their approach to the UNSC. I will also do everything I can to make our delegates feel comfortable and welcome in the committee. Please feel free to contact me or Arpit with any questions about the committee, and I look forward to seeing you all at HNMUN 2024!
Sophia Weng
Crisis Director, UNSC
Harvard National Model United Nations, 2024