Image 1 of 1
Committee Summary
While countries around the world were struggling to bring an end to the Great War, the United States of America was fighting an entirely different battle. In the spring of 1918, hundreds of residents and soldiers contracted influenza in Haskell County, Kansas; within months, this local outbreak evolved into the first true global pandemic. With extremely limited knowledge of the virus and its mode of transmission, leaders around the world struggled to contain the deadly flu. In the United States alone, the influenza pandemic of 1918 infected roughly twenty million people, and resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths.
The U.S. Advisory Council on the Influenza Pandemic, 1918, takes place during the second wave of the pandemic.
In this committee, notable scientists, medical professionals, politicians, and activists will convene to discuss the influenza pandemic and its impact on American citizens. The delegates will work together to create a strategy that will help prevent the spread of influenza and bring equitable health care to disadvantaged communities across the nation. In discussing the best course of action, delegates should consider how sanitation, medicine, science, censorship, and labor shortages may affect the advisory board’s solution(s).
MEET THE CHAIR
CAITLYN CHITWOOD
Hello, Delegates!
My name is Caitlyn Chitwood and I am honored to serve as your chair for the U.S. Advisory Council on the Influenza Pandemic, 1918 at BruinMUN 34! I am a third year Anthropology (B.S.) major, with way too many extracurriculars. Outside of Model UN, I am a Resident Assistant in the university dorms and I am a board member for two additional clubs. I am also conducting my own research in the UCLA Bigham Lab for Anthropological Genomics. When I am back home in Tehachapi, California, I love to spend my time reading, watching movies, and taking hikes through the mountains or by the ocean.
My introduction to Model UN was actually through BruinMUN here at UCLA! During my first quarter, I staffed BruinMUN 32 and was fascinated by the club’s atmosphere, topics, and all of the MUN veterans around me. Even as a newcomer, I have felt so incredibly welcomed by everyone and I have loved learning more about the world of MUN through my staffing experiences at BruinMUN 32, LAMUN XX, and LAMUN XXI. Across the three conferences, I have served as a dais staffer in two specialized committees and a backroom staffer for a crisis committee. I am eager to return to my roots with this year’s specialized committee, and I am so excited to hear each of your ideas and solutions!
The U.S. Advisory Council on the Influenza Pandemic, 1918 is set during the first wave of the global influenza pandemic, just after the first outbreak occurred in the United States of America. I feel that this committee is especially relevant in our modern world, given that we have all witnessed the effects of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. My hope is that you will all be able to apply your newfound knowledge of the “forgotten pandemic” to better understand the diseases that we hear about every day. In committee, delegates will have the opportunity to discuss viruses, contamination, and public health from the perspectives of politicians, scientists, activists, and more. It is imperative that the delegates work together to mitigate the spread of influenza while bringing care to all communities across the U.S.
As a novice committee, I understand that this may be the first ever committee and/or conference for several delegates. Please don’t fret! I will do everything in my power to make this a great MUN experience for everyone. I look forward to hearing each of your creative and profound contributions to our committee’s topics. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions; I am happy to help! I will see you all in November!
Best,
Caitlyn Chitwood | U.S. Advisory Council on the Influenza Pandemic | BruinMUN 34