BruinMUN Policies

BruinMUN values the educational aspect of Model UN and believes that awards should supplement the collaborative and respectful atmosphere in committee. Awards are issued at our conference to recognize individual delegates and delegations for outstanding performance in respective committees and their exceptional contributions towards debate and diplomacy. Each committee will distribute awards for Best Delegate, Outstanding Delegate, Honorable Mention, and Verbal Commendation. The specific number of awards issued per committee is proportional to the committee size.

Delegate awards are awarded at the discretion of committee staff, with a completely school-blind methodology. BruinMUN chairs (and crisis directors for crisis committees) are instructed to holistically evaluate the performance of delegates in committee. For crisis committees specifically, front room and backroom performance is weighted approximately an equal amount. Committee staff carefully deliberate awards, considering each delegate’s:

• Quality of research and demonstrated understanding of country/character policy

• Quality, creativity, and comprehensiveness of proposed solutions and resolutions

• Quantity and quality of speeches given in committee

• Effectiveness in working in caucus/resolution groups

• Diplomacy skills in building consensus and compromising with others

• Quality of personal crisis arc and response to crisis situations (in crisis committees)

Delegation awards are decided based on a ranked and weighted points system. BruinMUN uses the standard 5-4-3-2 point system to assign point values to individual awards. We calculate the points that each school won, as well as each school’s points per delegate. We then normalize and sum both values to obtain the delegation’s final score. The distinction between large and small delegations is made by performing calculations regarding the size of all delegations attending BruinMUN. Awards issued are considered final and non-revocable, except in the instance that an award recipient is later found to have violated any conference policies that justify revocation of the award.

Here is a preparation guide to help delegates get an understanding of how they can better prepare the conference.

The Secretariat and Staff at BruinMUN are committed to ensuring that BruinMUN is a safe environment for all delegates where everyone feels welcome. The conference has a strong no tolerance policy for any actions or communication: verbal or non verbal, whether through speeches, resolutions, notes to delegates, crisis notes, or interactions with other delegates that discriminates based on factors such as, but not limited to:

• Race

• Color

• Gender Identity

• Sexual Orientation

• Religion

• Nationality/Ethnic Origin

• Physical or Mental Disability

This is applicable for any communication made between delegates representing themselves or for comments made as the representative of a country. For example, making derogatory statements about another country in committee because of a religion that the nation’s majority follows is not permissible.

Delegates who violate this policy will be asked to talk to a member of the Secretariat. Consequences for violation of this policy range from being given a warning to potential disqualification from awards and suspension from the conference.

Please ensure that you conduct yourself in a manner that allows you, other delegates, and staff to enjoy the conference. If you have any concerns or experience any discomfort during the conference, please contact your Chair or a USG, who would be happy to speak with you.

Crisis committees are non-traditional committees which cover specific historical and political events. Due to the nature of crisis committees, delegates hold allocations with powerful roles for the respective time period and have far more creative freedom in their directives. Therefore delegates participating in these committees must act with caution since these committees address sensitive political and historical issues.

The sensitivity statement applies throughout the entire committee. To maintain a safe and respectful environment, BruinMUN will not accept or tolerate motions or directives entertaining

• Nuclear weapons, biological warfare,

• Drugs, Slavery, Human-trafficking, and Sex-trafficking

• Violence against any ethnicity, race, religion, or identity

We also discourage assassination attempts on other allocations during the first day of committee. Ask your Chair or CD if you are concerned about your arcs or directives.

As an academic conference, BruinMUN strictly prohibits plagiarism or the use of other’s work without citations or due credit. Plagiarism can take many forms, but is most commonly observed in written work, such as position papers. The use of ChatGPT or other AI tools will be recognized as plagiarism and is not tolerated whatsoever. If there is any evidence of plagiarism in written work, the delegate(s) will not be eligible for an award. Delegations with multiple cases of plagiarism may be reconsidered for delegation awards. It is the responsibility of the delegate and advisor to prevent cases of plagiarism.

In an effort to promote a collaborative educational environment and equitably evaluate the performance of each delegate, BruinMUN strictly prohibits the submission or utilization of pre-written resolutions during the conference. Delegates are expected to engage with others in committee and the topic at hand to prepare all written solutions in committee. Substantive work (i.e. drafting clauses for resolutions) performed outside of committee sessions is not permitted during the conference weekend.

If it does not seem that the contents of a document could have been feasibly written during the allotted time in committee, chairs reserve the right to question its authenticity and investigate the draft history of a document. Any contents discovered to be prewritten will be duly penalized.

Delegates that wish to report evidence of pre-written resolutions should speak directly to their committee chair.

BruinMUN views technology as a useful tool that can support, but not replace, debate. In this regard, we encourage delegates to bring technological devices (i.e. laptops or tablets) for the sole purpose of drafting and viewing working papers and resolutions in committee. Delegates are not permitted to conduct additional research in committee; instead, they should prepare research notes that are available in a non-digital format. The use of cellphones is strongly discouraged in committee and inappropriate use of technology may result in disqualification from awards.

There are generally three types of technology policies:

Unmod Tech: Technology devices can be utilized for resolution writing inside the committee room only during unmoderated caucuses. Resolution drafting taking place at other times must take place outside of the committee room. Delegates will utilize pre-created documents to prepare their working papers, which will be shared at the start of each committee session. All GA and Novice GA committees are unmod tech unless otherwise stated.

Non-Tech: Technology use will not be permitted at any time, even for the writing of resolutions. Only handwritten resolutions will be accepted and all research must be saved in a physical form (i.e. research binder). All crisis committees are non-tech committees.

AI Policy: BruinMUN has a zero-tolerance policy in regards to AI programs such as ChatGPT. The use of any such AI tools is considered plagiarism and will be handled in accordance with the BruinMUN plagiarism policy.

To maintain a professional environment, all BruinMUN attendees are required to attend in professional attire. This includes:

Professional Western Business Attire (WBA) consisting of suit jackets/blazers, dress shirts, slacks/skirts, professional dresses, and ties. Skirts and dresses should be knee length.

Wear the professional attire suited to the gender with which you identify.

This may not include:

Casual sweaters/jackets, jeans/shorts/sweatpants, tee-shirts, casual skirts/sundresses.

Sandals/flip-flops as footwear.

Dual Delegations: Delegates participating in Dual-Delegation Committees may designate ONE delegate at a time to leave the committee room; one delegate from each delegation MUST remain in the room. Outroom delegates will be permitted to work on Working Papers, Resolutions, Amendments, and merging as necessary during this time. Delegates should be mindful of when they enter and exit the room.

Working On Resolutions Outside of Committee: Delegates at BruinMUN are NOT permitted to work outside of Committee Session. Committee chairs will be locking working paper documents when committee is not in session. Any suspicious activity that appears to constitute work on resolutions outside of committee session will be reported to Conference Secretariat. Instead, delegates are encouraged to take breaks, get food, meet other delegates, and get adequate rest.

Voting Bloc: During Voting Bloc, the dais must lock the door so that no delegate may enter(exit and advisors are okay). Delegates are not permitted to send notes at this time, and there must be absolutely no lobbying or crosstalk.

Spectating Delegates & Advisors: BruinMUN permits advisors, parent chaperones, and head delegates to observe their delegates in committee session during the conference. All spectators must receive an advisor badge or clearance from the Director of External Relations or Secretary-General at conference registration at the start of the conference and may be asked to present their credential to a member of Secretariat. Spectators must not participate or interfere with debate in any way, including discussing with their delegates in committee. Committee chairs reserve the right to remove advisors and spectators from the committee room.