TCMUN
Crisis: Solar Flare and Yellowstone Explosion
Advanced Committee
In Model United Nations, a Crisis Committee is a fast-paced, dynamic type of committee where delegates must respond to evolving, often unpredictable situations in real time. Unlike traditional General Assembly style committees, which follow a more structured debate format, crisis committees simulate high-pressure environments like war rooms, political cabinets, or international crisis teams.
One of the defining features of a crisis committee is the introduction of real-time events, known as crisis updates. These developments can include anything from assassinations and military actions to political scandals or economic collapses, depending on the scenario. Delegates must react quickly and strategically to these events to influence the direction of the committee.
Chairs
Matthew Finkel
I have been doing MUN for 3 years. I have attended the Jackson TCMUN conference twice, once as a delegate and once as a chair. This will be my second time chairing for TCMUN. I have also attended BOSMUN XXIV. Being the Head Chair. I like to ski, hang out with friends, work out, hike, and drive around at night. I used to live in Virginia.
Katherine Levenson
1 year, TCMUN, and MITMUN. I can't wait to see the direction the delegates take in coming up with solutions for the problems set before them. I love Ballet, Tennis, Running, and hanging out with friends. I have been doing ballet since I was 3 years old.
Topic 1:
Solar Flares
A hugely powerful solar flare (X17.1) has wiped out major power grids in North America, destroying infrastructure from satellites to electricity transformers. This has caused billions of dollars of damage and created instability. 85 percent or more of communications and GPS satellites have been rendered unusable. Aside from the North American power grid, with 195 million Americans without power and 40 million Canadians affected, the Norwegian power grid completely collapsed, Finland and Sweden lost about 80% of their electrical capacity. Russia was heavily damaged, as well as Japan. Because of the communications collapse, maintaining foreign affairs poses a struggle and internal chaos and crime skyrockets. Undersea internet cables stay intact, but with so many satellites destroyed, the internet is almost unusable. Cell towers become overloaded, and emergency service systems collapse. With economic pressures rising and economies collapsing, delegates need to figure out how to manage resources and rebuild humanity while giving aid to the billions of people affected by this solar flare. They will navigate these issues through whatever means they find necessary.
Topic 2:
Yellowstone Explosion
Prior to the solar flare, the seismometers tracking Yellowstone’s activity detected a large increase in seismic activity, along with recent changes in the landscape of the volcano and its surrounding area, indicating that the volcano is nearing eruption. After the eruption, all land within a 100-mile radius of the explosion is decimated, and an ash cloud spreads throughout the western United States and beyond, potentially causing a “volcanic winter”. This severely degrades air quality and contaminates water, creating health risks across the country and bordering nations. The eruption causes high fatalities and massive destruction of the national and global economy, as well as national security. Air travel comes to a standstill because of the ash; airports across the country are forced to shut down, and flights are grounded. The western United States experiences severe terrain and landscape alteration; buildings, roads, power lines, and bridges collapse, and the agricultural industry is disrupted, isolating communities and hindering emergency response. Delegates will have to work together to plan a massive evacuation of citizens, manage resources, and develop strategies to rebuild infrastructure and support economic recovery, all while balancing the lack of technology and communication.