Image 1 of 1
Committee Summary
A house divided against itself cannot stand. As delegates of the 1974 United Nations Security Council, you’re set in a world already strained by Cold War rivalries. The ensuing two crises, both fueled by political instability and challenges to national sovereignty, present you with the opportunity to either display that diplomacy can prevail or to plunge the world deeper into chaos.
The Cyprus Dispute involves direct conflict between two major powers of the Mediterranean, a conflict whose effects have shaped the division of Cyprus today.
In this committee, you will be tasked with not only addressing the ongoing conflict but to develop a plan for future peace as well. Similarly, the Collapse of the Ethiopian Monarchy is not simply centered around the fall of an emperor; facing the escalating Eritrean insurgency, you will be pushed to make choices that either protect or unravel stability in the entire Horn of Africa. Furthermore, considering the Cold War backdrop, you will be challenged to think of regional conflicts as battlegrounds for other players without diverting attention from those who have been hurt and displaced by the hostility.
Will diplomacy prevail and restore harmony and tranquility to the Mediterranean and Horn of Africa, or will the decisions made in this committee fan the flames of an even greater conflict?
MEET THE CHAIR
AMY GANATRA
Hi, Delegates,
My name is Amy Ganatra, and I am so excited to be your Chair for UNSC: 1974. I am a fourth year, Political Science Major and Public Affairs minor from Cerritos! Outside of MUN, I love music, going to concerts with my favorites being Lorde, Taylor, and Gracie, and hanging out with my friends.
MUN has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, starting from 7th grade. My love for debate and policy influenced me to continue competing, and eventually I had the honor of serving as Secretary General of my high school’s MUN program during my senior year. Here at UCLA, I staffed BruinMUN and LAMUN, and also got the chance to compete at UC Berkeley. While I have traditionally competed in GA, staffing Crisis at LAMUN this year was such an incredible experience. Seeing you all continue to choose to compete makes me so happy and I hope to provide one of the most memorable conferences experiences for you.
I am so passionate about this topic, and am excited for you all to get the chance to explore major conflicts of instability and international decision making. The Cyprus dispute highlights overarching tensions of sovereignty and the role of the United Nations in preventing ongoing violence. The collapse of the Ethiopian monarchy also gives you all a chance to look at political transition and the harsh consequences of a government losing its legitimacy, a very important topic in our political climate.
I can’t wait to see what you all will bring to this committee, and am so excited to meet you all. If you have any questions feel free to reach out at anytime, I am happy to help! Amy Ganatra
Best,
Amy Ganatra | Chair, UNSC, 1974 | BruinMUN 34
MEET THE CRISIS DIRECTOR
VIRAJ AMARANENI
Dear Delegates,
My name is Viraj Amaraneni, and I can’t wait to be y’all’s CD for the UNSC at BruinMUN 34! I am a fourth year Neuroscience major and Philosophy minor from San Antonio, Texas. I am an avid Spurs fan and spend my free time either baking, trying new shows, or watching LeBron highlights. I also love trying new food spots around LA, making it a point to try to go somewhere new every week with my roommates (although we often just end up at Taco Bell). I also adore scenic drives, often pestering my friends with cars to drive through Bel Air or the Hollywood Hills.
I joined Model UN my sophomore year of high school and eventually ran the team my senior year, but I’d only ever competed at the same conference in my time there. After taking a break for two years, my passion for MUN was reignited in my Junior year of college, where I competed at TrojanMUN and was blown away by the intellect and wit of my fellow delegates and the depth of the friendships I formed over the course of a weekend. Since then, I have competed at UCBMUN, staffed backroom at BruinMUN, and staffed backroom at LAMUN UNSC.
The topics that this UNSC will cover place you directly in the center of two conflicts that involve foreign powers stirring up conflict in land that is not theirs. The Cyprus Dispute will not only challenge you to end the fighting in Cyprus and establish security, but it will ask you to address the needs and wishes of the Cypriots themselves and think through how they will want their future shaped while other invaders want to shape it for them. The Fall of the Ethiopian Monarchy will ask you to think through securing peace in both Ethiopia as well as Eritrea, and both conflicts have factions that influence the other. This challenges you to not only address the needs of one people but to figure out how to create a peace plan for two different nations to live in harmony. Finally, the Cold War backdrop during both of these topics might push you to deal with Western and Soviet tensions molding the progression of these issues.
There is so much room for creative solutions and explosive arcs, and I can’t wait to see how y’all approach handling these topics! Feel free to reach out with any questions, and I am eager to work with you all in November!
Sincerely,
Viraj Amaraneni | Crisis Director, UNSC, 1974 | BruinMUN 34