This year was the fortieth anniversary of the National Collegiate Security Conference (NCSC XL) hosted by Georgetown University. This conference has always had a focus on crises and security issues and the Opening Ceremonies speaker, Elliot Abrams, re-emphasized that by sharing his experience with decision-making scenarios within government. It’s always important to look beyond the end result and see how decision-makers came up with a solution, and it’s also important to understand that those in the bureaucracy are supposed to support — not go against or sabotage — an elected President that represents the people. NCSC gives an opportunity for college students to practice those decision-making processes through its security and crisis simulations.
As usual, here are photos of delegates and staff in action! You can find a lot more coverage plus videos at NCSC News: http://ncscnews.wordpress.com/
Secretary-General Peter Brigham welcomes 560 delegates to NCSC XL
Elliot Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, shared insights into the decision-making process from his personal experiences in international relations
McGill representing Canada at NCSC
Miami does The U
NCSC ran three joint crises. One of them focused in Prague Spring 1968 where the Soviet Politburo and Czechoslovak Politburo had to make calculated decisions on how to interact with each other.
Arvids Pelse (University of Miami) speaks in the Soviet Politburo 1968
Vasil Mzhavanadeze (University of Pennsylvania) makes an argument to the rest of the Soviet Politburo 1968
Pyotr Masherov (Florida State University) makes a speech in the Soviet Politburo 1968
The Soviet Politburo’s discussions focused on Prague Spring in 1968
Soviet Politburo chair Caitlin Pharo discusses the crisis situation with the crisis staff
Czechoslovak Politburo chair Caroline Puckowski reads off a directive to the cabinet
A delegate makes a passionate speech in the Czechoslovak Politburo
A delegate proposes creating an East Point Academy in order to develop better military relations with the Warsaw Pact
A delegate points out flaws and dangers with allowing Soviet troops to train at the proposed East Point Academy
Another delegate also disagrees with the East Point Academy strategy
The Burmese Cabinet focused on the key security and development issues that need to be addressed for an infant country.
The dais members of the Burmese Cabinet 1948 listen to a delegate’s speech
Mya (Yale University) speaks in the Burmese Cabinet 1948
Kyaw Nyein (McGill University) presents a long directive on land redistribution policies in the 1948 Burmese Cabinet
Than Aung (American University) disagrees with the proposed land redistribution policies in the Burmese Cabinet 1948
Vamthu Maung (St. Stephen’s College) and Win (University of Pennsylvania) negotiate some clauses on a directive
Military officials assassinate a traitor within the Burmese Cabinet
Crisis Manager Natalie Nah points out troop movements in the Burmese Cabinet 1948
Delegates strategize over what action to take in the Burmese Cabinet 1948
One of the joint crises focused on Mexican Cartels in 2014 – Sinaloas vs. Zetas. Drug trafficking was an issue that was repeatedly mentioned during our workshops in Latin America, so it’s important to do simulations so that we have a better understanding of the security issues surrounding it.
Zetas Chair Dane Shikman lays down the law
Raul Lucio (Boston University) speaks in the Zetas cartel
Galindo Mellado (University of Pennsylvania) makes his arguments in the Zetas cartel
The Zetas cartel receives a crisis update
Sinaloas cartel chair Tommy Larson looks to select the next speaker in the moderated caucus
Mario de la Lopez (University of Pennsylvania) tries to convince a fellow cartel member to agree in the Sinaloas cartel
A delegate reads off his directive in the Sinaloas cartel
Diego Pablo Sanchez-Mendoza (Mount Holyoke College) successfully negotiated a way out of a bribe despite the pressure of many guns pointed at her.
Delegates and chairs in the Zetas committee get increasingly dressed up with facial tattoos, sunglasses, bandanas, and weapons.
Another joint crisis focused on the 1979 crisis between the United States and Iran.
The dais of the Iranian Council color-coordinated with the flag
Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (Mount Holyoke College) debates with Ebrahim Yazdi (McGill University) during unmoderated caucus in the Iranian Council
Delegates collaborate on ideas in the Iranian Council
The negotiators for the Iranian Council, Mehdi Bazargan (University of Pennsylvania) and Ahmad Madani (Harvard University) were very aggressive and came back with terms that their own council thought was too good to be true.
Representatives from the US National Security Council negotiate with the Iranian Council
US National Security Council chair Theresa Lou and director Claire Zeng listen to the debate
The Secretary of the Treasury (Duke University) speaks in the US National Security Council 1979
Walter Mondale (Florida State University) speaks in the US National Security Council
David Aaron (University of Pennsylvania) points out the order in which military action should be taken
The US and Iran are about to go to war and it becomes chaotic as delegates rush to finish their directives for military action
The International Criminal Court had the Trial of Gaddafi and Al-Senusi as their cases.
A witness gives her testimony about Gaddafi in the ICC
All the justices listen closely and furiously jot down notes during the testimony in the ICC
The Meltdown: Naoto Kan’s Japanese Cabinet focused on many contemporary crises and issues facing Japan including the damage done by earthquakes to Japan’s energy sources.
Naoto Kan’s Japanese Cabinet chair Taylor Wettach provides the committee with some direction after the latest earthquake crisis
NCSC has been simulating a Chinese Politburo committee in the past three years. This year’s simulation is the Special Meeting of the Chinese Politburo in 2017. The council dealt with a variety of issues including a major crisis involving Taiwanese independence.
Alex Boudreau and Tony Lin chair the Special Meeting of the Chinese Politburo 2017
Delegates listen for the details on the latest crisis update
The Chairman of the CPC Central Guidance Commission for Building Spiritual Civilization (Harvard University) shows her concern with an idea in the Chinese Politburo 2017
Delegates caucus in the Special Meeting of the Chinese Politburo 2017
The Minister of State Security (Boston University) is at the center of attention during unmoderated caucus in the Special Meeting of the Chinese Politburo 2017
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 2015
France (West Point) makes an argument in NATO
A delegate speaks during moderated caucus in NATO
Executive Committee of the Communist International 1922
Chair Nick Bellomy leads his comrades in the Exec. Comm. of the Communist International 1922
A delegate speaks in the Exec. Comm. of the Communist International 1922
Another delegate speaks during moderated caucus in the Exec. Comm. of the Communist International 1922
Delegates read the latest crisis update
Check out the board map displayed at the center of committee
Chilean Senate 1970
A delegate types out ideas during unmoderated caucus in the Chilean Senate 1970
A delegate speaks during unmoderated caucus in the Chilean Senate 1970
Two delegates hash out a clause for their draft resolution in the Chilean Senate 1970
Two delegates discuss an idea during unmoderated caucus in the Chilean Senate 1970
Delegates look over a proposed solution in the Chilean Senate 1970
Delegates participate in unmoderated caucus in the Chilean Senate 1970
Delegates work on a draft resolution together in the Chilean Senate 1970
Delegates enjoy a lighter moment during a busy unmoderated caucus in the Chilean Senate 1970
Delegates read off their draft resolution in the Chilean Senate 1970
Delegates crowd around the dais to discuss their draft resolution in the Chilean Senate 1970
Delegates discuss different solutions outside of committee in the Chilean Senate 1970
Delegates in the Chilean Senate 1970 network after a session. Networking is an important part of college MUN.
The Ad Hoc Summit of the European Central Bank dealt with the European financial crisis
The Ad Hoc Summit of the European Central Bank dealt with the European financial crisis
Delegates work on their draft resolution in the Ad Hoc Summit of the European Central Bank
Delegates look over a draft resolution in the Ad Hoc Summit of the European Central Bank
Italy (Rutgers University) makes a speech in the Ad Hoc Summit of the European Central Bank
Delegates re-confirm their stances on the issues in the Ad Hoc Summit of the European Central Bank
News Corp Board of Directors, July 2011
The News Corp Board of Directors
James Murdoch (Yale University) makes a speech in the News Corp Board of Directors
Chase Carey (Emory University) and Joel Klein (Harvard University) discuss a deal in the News Corp Board of Directors
Peter Barnes (Duke University) makes a comment in the News Corp Board of Directors
Delegates react to a crisis update in the News Corp Board of Directors
ZANU-PF Steering Committee
ZANU-PF Steering Committee chair Anais Carmona regulates debate with a gun instead of gavel
A delegate speaks in the ZANU-PF Steering Committee
A delegate discusses the pros and cons of releasing information to the public in the ZANU-PF Steering Committee
A leader of a breakaway opposition group (Columbia University) tries to establish power for their party in the ZANU-PF Steering Committee
A crisis staffer reminds delegates in the ZANU-PF Steering Committee how international observers will view their actions
Likud Party Caucus
The delegates in the Likud Party Caucus had by far the most passionate speeches of any of the committees as they had major disagreements on the issues of Palestinian citizenship and land swaps. Some delegates chose to engage in rhetoric and reminded others that they are the “Chosen Ones.”
A delegate makes a passionate speech in the Likud Party Caucus
Moshe Kahlon (Yale University) delivers her speech in the Likud Party Caucus
A delegate reminds the committee that they are the Chosen Ones
Gilad Erdan (Rutgers University) argues against an idea in the Likud Party Caucus
Summit of the Resistance: Europe Underground 1942
Summit of the Resistance: Europe Underground 1942 chair Zohreen Badruddin meets the delegates in her committee during unmoderated caucus
A delegate makes a speech in the Summit of the Resistance: Europe Underground 1942.
Chester Wesley (University of Virginia) considers a proposal in the Summit of the Resistance: Europe Underground 1942
Delegates provide feedback to a draft resolution sponsored by Boris Mladic (Boston University) in the Summit of the Resistance: Europe Underground 1942
Delegates seek approval from the chairs on their draft resolution
Delegates enjoy a lighter moment in committee
Other photos of delegates and staff in action
Director of Delegate Affairs Sarah Pemberton and Executive Director Jessica Lawson smile for the camera
A delegate awaits is blindfolded and awaits his interrogation
Crisis staffers for various committees pose for a photo
Delegation Awards:
Best Large Delegation: University of Pennsylvania
Outstanding Large Delegation: Harvard University
Best Small Delegation: United States Military Academy at West Point
Outstanding Small Delegation: Boston University
Congrats to all the delegates and staff for a successful weekend! And hope everyone got home safely from the hurricane!
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I personally enjoyed seeing everyone again during this conference. I thought it was also very rewarding to see former high school delegates who I had met from different parts of the world now doing Model UN at the college level. Although this may be my only visit to the college circuit this year, I hope to see you all again soon.
