GMU Model UN</a>

The Mid-Atlantic Simulation of the United Nations (MASUN) 2009

The Mid-Atlantic Simulation of the United Nations (MASUN) is the pride and joy of George Mason Model UN. Every spring, we host hundreds of high school students to discuss the pressing international policy issues of the day. Students become fully engaged representing various countries and individuals, immersing themselves in the international policy arena.

For more information, please use the resources at right or contact us.

Committees, Topics, & Background Guides

Please note that all Beginner-Level and Intermediate-Level committees are double-delegation; all Advanced-Level committees are single-delegation.

Background guides are listed below the names of the chairs of each committee and are available as PDF files (they are each approximately 1-3MB in size).

Right-click and select “Save target as…” or “Save link as…” to save them to your computer.

Please email us if you still have any problems accessing them.  Thank you!  -gmuMUN

Beginner Committees  (double-delegation)

  • Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural (SOCHUM) (Beginner Non-Crisis)
    Topics: Black Market Organ Trade, Upholding Human Rights while Countering Terrorism, The Media’s Role in Conflict Zones
    Co-Chair: Miguel Perez (mperezg@gmu.edu)
    Co-Chair: Bethany Littlejohn (blittlej@gmu.edu)
    Background Guide: masun09-sochum.pdf

    Beginner-level debate and policymaking on social and humanitarian issues with a focus on parliamentary procedure.

  • United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (Beginner Non-Crisis)
    Topics: Re-Integrating Child Soldiers, Child Trafficking in Southeast Asia, Funding Primary Education
    Co-Chair: Kerri Buschbacher (kbuschba@gmu.edu)
    Co-Chair: Elise Nicole Bliss (ebliss1@gmu.edu)
    Background Guide: masun09-unicef.pdf

    Beginner-level debate and policymaking on issues pertaining to children with a focus on parliamentary procedure.

Intermediate Committees  (double-delegation)

  • African Union (Intermediate Non-Crisis)
    Topics: “United States of Africa” (Pan-Africanism), Great War of Africa, Female Genital Mutilation
    Co-Chair: Dan Blau (dblau1@gmu.edu)
    Co-Chair: Dina Coutu (dcoutu@gmu.edu)
    Background Guide: masun09-au.pdf

    Intermediate-level debate and policymaking involving the 53 nations of the African Union.

  • 2012 European Union (Intermediate Non-Crisis)
    Topics: Unified Defence Policy, European Space Program, Kaliningrad
    Co-Chair: Melissa Raymond (mraymond@gmu.edu)
    Co-Chair: Nicole Kukuruda (nkukurud@gmu.edu)
    Background Guide: masun09-eu.pdf

    Intermediate-level debate and policymaking involving the member nations of the European Union in the near-future, dealing with internal policy and a foreign policy conflict.

  • UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (Intermediate Non-Crisis)
    Topics: Transnational Organized Crime, Human Trafficking Across International Borders, Illicit Arms Trade
    Co-Chair: Jackie Mulherin (emulheri@gmu.edu)
    Co-Chair: Nick O’Boyle (noboyle@gmu.edu)
    Background Guide: masun09-ccpcj.pdf

    Intermediate-level debate and policymaking on issues pertaining to international drug policy.

  • NFL Annual Meeting (Intermediate Non-Crisis)
    Topics: Raising the NFL’s International Profile, Revenue Sharing, Stability in the Economic Crisis
    Co-Chair: Pete Abbate (pabbate@gmu.edu)
    Co-Chair: Kelsey Wilkens (kwilkens@gmu.edu)
    Background Guide: masun09-nfl.pdf

    Intermediate-level debate and policymaking using the issues surrounding the National Football League as a backdrop.

  • Reformed UN Security Council (Intermediate Non-Crisis)
    Topics: Cyberterrorism, Weaponization of Space, Reduction of Nuclear Stockpiles
    Co-Chair: Olivia Fivek (ofivek@gmu.edu)
    Co-Chair: Ryan Ho (rho2@gmu.edu
    Background Guide: masun09-runsc.pdf

    Intermediate-level debate and policymaking on international security issues in a committee structure based on former Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s reform plan.

Advanced Committees  (single-delegation)

  • 1962 US National Security Council (Advanced Joint Crisis)
    Topics: Soviet Relations with Cuba, The Missile Gap
    Chair: Josh Owens (jowens6@gmu.edu)
    Crisis Director: Wilberg Rivera (wrivera1@gmu.edu)
    Background Guide: masun09-nsc.pdf

    An advanced historical crisis that places you in the position of a military or cabinet-level adviser of the United States during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Will history play out differently this time?

  • 1962 Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (Advanced Historical Crisis)
    Topics: Soviet Commitment to Cuba, The Missile Gap
    Chair: Samantha D’Introno (sdintron@gmu.edu)
    Crisis Director: Wilberg Rivera (wrivera1@gmu.edu)
    Background Guide: masun09-soviet.pdf

    An advanced historical crisis that places you in the position of a cabinet-level adviser of the former Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Will history play out differently this time?

  • 1962 Secretary-General’s Ad-Hoc Committee (Advanced Historical Crisis)
    Topics: Open Agenda
    Chair: Ally Bowers (abowers3@gmu.edu)
    Crisis Director: Wilberg Rivera (wrivera1@gmu.edu)
    Background Guide: masun09-adhoc.pdf

    The third committee in our joint crisis simulation, this is for the most advanced of delegates.  You will only be briefed about your positions and the country or body which you represent when you begin committee and will serve as a mystery catalyst during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

  • International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) (Advanced Crisis)
    Topics: Open Agenda
    Chair: Ashley O’Donnell (aodonne2@gmu.edu)
    Crisis Director: Kripa Patwardhan (kpatwar1@gmu.edu)
    Background Guide: masun09-iaapa.pdf

    What direction will you take the IAAPA, an international conglomerate comprised of representatives from museums, zoos, aquariums, casinos, and amusement parks? An advanced crisis simulation that will test your ability to determine the government and public relations of a business-oriented trade association.

  • White House Senior Staff (Advanced Crisis)
    Topics: Solving the Economic Crisis, Environment & Alternative Energy
    Chair: Tarren Smarr (tsmarr@gmu.edu)
    Crisis Director: Paula Hill (phill4@gmu.edu)
    Background Guide: masun09-whss.pdf

    An advanced crisis that places you in control of Barack Obama’s White House agenda only a month after he assumes office. How will you direct the President of the United States of America to act on his policy agenda in this fast-paced advanced crisis?