INTRODUCTION TO

COMMITTEES

UTMUN is privileged to welcome delegations from around the world.

However, we recognize there may be regional nuances to the terminology used to describe committees and their structures. If you are attending our conference for the first time, to ensure a smooth transition to UTMUN, continue below to learn more about the Directors, Vice-Directors, Moderators, Crisis Managers, Crisis Analysts, and Logistics Officers who deliver our committees to high degree of quality they are known to be.

Masters of the Craft: The Director

The Committee Director is the individual(s) responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of the committee at-large. These individuals author the committee’s Background Guide, a large academic paper on the setting and situation the committee will be tasked to address, and possible a Mechanics Guide and Characters Guide depending on the type of committee. Furthermore, the Committee Director manages the committees front room of debate, where delegates engage in speeches and come to solutions on the issues at-hand, and works with the rest of their staff to ensure the committee is progressing well and touching appropriately on all necessary subtopics and themes.

Your Committee Director is available to answer questions you may have about your committee! You may reach them using the committee emails once Background Guides are published. Every committee has a Committee Director, except for the ICJ, which is presided over by the ICJ President.

ARCHITECTS OF EXCELLENCE: The Vice-DirectoR

The Vice-Director assists the Director in all facets of preparing for the conference, from co-authoring academic material, to assisting the days of the conference such as in reviewing position papers, answering questions and ensuring delegates feel adequately prepared for the debate.

Vice Directors exclusively assist in General Assemblies, ECOSOC & Regional Bodies and select Specialized Agencies. The ICJ is assisted by the ICJ Vice-President.

Order Amidst the Chaos: The Moderator

The Moderator presides over the debate to ensure delegates adhere to the UTMUN Rules of Procedure. They ensure delegates engage in equal parts debate and negotiation versus solution building, timed speeches versus presentations, and a fair amount of time in formal and informal debate. The Moderator is constantly overseeing the front room and delegate decorum, while the Director or Vice-Director may be preoccupied with reviewing delegates’ working papers, position papers, or public/private directives.

All committees equivalents have one dedicated Moderator.

Setting the Stage: The Crisis Manager

The Crisis Manager presides over a committee’s backroom, where new topics of debate are thought of to engage delegates in an ongoing cycle of issues with compounding effects. The Crisis Manager builds off the delegates’ discussion in the front room by highlighting underlying issues that are yet to be considered but have grave consequences. They will periodically make appearances to the delegates when presenting their crisis updates with equal measure flair and focus. They also assist in authoring the Mechanics Guide and Character Guides, when applicable.

The Crisis Manager oversees a team of Crisis Analysts and are exclusive to Crisis Committees and some Specialized Agencies.

ExECUTING THE VISION: CRISIS ANALYSTS

Crisis Analysts are the team of creatives who assist the Crisis Manager in originating engaging and complex crisis updates to test delegates’ negotiating and problem solving skills. They operate in the committee back room and ensure the delegates are progressing forward but adequate time and care spent on each issue as it arises. At times, the Crisis Analysts will assist in creating the Mechanics Guide and Character Guides.

The Crisis Manager oversees a team of Crisis Analysts and are exclusive to Crisis Committees and some Specialized Agencies.

CENTRAL TO SUCCESS: LOGISTICS OFFICERS

Each committee staff is completed with their Logistic Officers (or Pages) who review and deliver delegates’ personal notes sent during the committee. These individuals play a central role in facilitating the debate, ensuring equity is at the forefront of our discussion and consideration of international affairs, and that the committee progresses in a timely fashion. They assist the Director, Vice-Director and Moderator in setting the pace in the front room, and when applicable, assist the Crisis Manager in ensuring notes are delivered efficiently to and from the Crisis Team.

Every committee has a Logistics Officer.