Standard Committees

Monkeypox, being related to one of the world's deadliest diseases, Smallpox, brought a lot of tension with it. Monkeypox also came in at a time when the disease was at the top of everyone's mind, heightening the unease it brought to the world. Smallpox killed an estimated of 300 million people over the 100 years before its eradication, so many believe that we must stop the virus as quickly as possible, so we don't have a repeat of Smallpox. Others think that because Monkeypox isn't as deadly as Smallpox, we should have to put all of our resources into getting rid of it. Delegates should examine the differences between low, middle, and high-income countries when it comes to how prepared they are for another disease outbreak. Delegates should also discuss the effects of Monkeypox economically and socially, as well as strategies to prevent these effects.

Chair: Adele Schlitt

Antibiotics were once seen as a medical savior for their ability to fight bacterial infections, overcome once-deadly diseases, and make medical procedures safer. However, in the modern day, these vaccines and treatments have become severely less effective, particularly for children. This committee will analyze how the overprescription and misuse of antibiotics have contributed to a rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and how this is influencing death rates and healthcare today. Delegates will discuss how governments and private organizations should combat growing antibiotic resistance.

Chair: Tatum Dempsey

Autonomous drone warfare is the forefront of modern conflict, however the ethics come into question due to the powerful capabilities of the drones. While they might protect human lives by keeping soldiers off the battlefield, autonomous drones also bring great harm in how effective they are for warfare, such as advanced reconnaissance and powerful drone strikes such as the ones used in the current Russia-Ukraine war. Its important to decide how much human involvement there will be in the future of conflict, or will autonomous drones and their production and utilization be the leading factor that decides victory. Delegates will be tasked with these ethical dilemmas and will make choices about the place drones will serve in the future, and who will institute that.

Chair: Milo Anderson

While sports betting may be considered important to many states' economies, other states throughout the US remain conflicted on the topic of sports betting. With the proliferation of online sports betting throughout the United States, specifically among the youth of America, this issue is more prevalent than ever. Delegates will weigh the pros and cons of sports betting, including the effect of illegal sports betting on teenagers, sporting leagues, and the United States as a whole. The committee should also consider what regulations the sports betting industry should or should not be held to, while also taking into account the ethical implications of the industry.

Chair: Addison Duckworth

Every death sentence represents not just a legal decision, but a human story of pain and lives forever changed. The death penalty is a deeply controversial issue that touches on justice, human rights, and the value of life. This committee will explore the real-life consequences of capital punishment, including the risk of executing innocent people and its unfair impact on oppressed communities. Delegates will consider whether the death penalty truly serves justice or causes more harm, and will work together to explore ethical, legal, and humane alternatives.

Chair: Lucie Sileo

Around the world, there is no worldwide standard of living for inmates, which gives countries free reign to either scare those who commit crimes by harshly punishing them with unsanitary living conditions, or to instead incentive prisoners to be on their best behavior by giving them access to amenities like libraries and private bathrooms. Prison labor is a form of harsh punishment commonly used to teach inmates life skills and reflect, but increased criticism about the inmates’ human rights has sparked the debate of rehabilitation, putting a potential end to inhumane treatment into certain regions. Delegates should deeply consider the purpose of prisons (either rehabilitation or punishment) as well as the possibility of issuing a worldwide standard that pertains to how humanely prisoners are treating to create balanced solutions that impact the future.

Chair: Caroline Strama

In this committee, the issue of digital trafficking, better known as the exploitation of people through manipulation, profiling, and sexual abuse on the internet, is becoming increasingly prevalent as the world shifts into the digital age. In the wake of the pandemic, the growing reliance on technology has only made it easier for digital traffickers to thrive and extort users on the internet, combined with a lack of attention from legislation when it comes to cybersecurity. Social media platforms, among other forms of media, have made it difficult to detect these traffickers, as no face-to-face contact is required. Therefore, this topic gives the delegates a difficult task of issuing new solutions that refrain from involving government overreach and a violation of individual rights while also considering the role of misinformation in the world of digital trafficking.

Chair: Cash Ray

Throughout history, the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus has been a place of political turmoil. After Britain took over Cyprus, the two Ethnic Groups, Greek and Turkish, began to seek independence from one another. With three opposing viewpoints, the people of the island were slowly becoming military opponents. The EU and UN have struggled to subdue the tension, leading to ongoing fighting and disputes between the Turkish and the Greeks throughout the years. It is the delegate's task to combat the quarrel diplomatically. 

Chair: Beja Fusco

With nuclear technology rapidly advancing, and threats to public safety and the environment progressing with it, the question of whether nuclear weapons should be forbidden across nations has arisen. Efforts have been made to regulate nuclear activity, but the issue is far too large and rapidly spreading for a successful initiative to have been implemented. The Delegate's job is to create a balanced solution that can undermine the dangers of nuclear development but also maintain the security it brings to struggling nations.

Chair: Alex Faulk

The existence of landmines in post-war zones pose life threatening dangers to innocent civilians and continue to take lives. In this committee, delegates will explore solutions to demining the affected areas to create safe countries where people can live without fear. Delegates will discuss the challenges of demining antipersonnel mines in difficult locations, balancing the use of land mines as a weapon for war, consider the history of land mine use and come to an effective solution that properly addresses the concerns of danger. Delegates will also be expected to research the Ottawa convention and the resulting Mine Ban Treaty, which sought to eliminate the use of APMs in signatory countries.

Chair: Cameron Fisher

Immigration has experienced a sharp increase as the world faces the complexities of globalization and rising conflicts, forcing migrants out of their homes and into foreign countries. The flow of humans globally, whether legal or illegal, will be addressed in this committee along with the nuances of legal processes and treatment of migrants, affirming safety for both the countries and the migrants while maintaining sovereignty and national security. Delegates should consider solutions for controlling borders, solving disputes, creating effective visa systems, distributing funds efficiently, and supporting migrants. 

Chair: Caroline Scott

As global industries continue to grow, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere does as well. The issue of global warming has shifted from an issue only for a specific set of scientists to an incredibly polarizing topic in which every person on the planet has a say. Some say that global warming isn't even an issue to be worried about, and that people around the world are overreacting, while others claim that global warming is the hottest issue right now and should be addressed as fast a possible. Whether or not you believe that global warming is a pressing issue or not, there is no question that the US is a large contributor to global emissions, having emitted 13.49% of all carbon emissions. Delegates should work collaboratively to find solutions to help put an end to global warming in the US, despite their differences in beliefs. 

Chair: Callie Doubrava