Impacts of COVID-19

The LUMUN Spirit was first introduced as a concept at LUMUN XV. It sought to reintroduce a recognition of the most essential components of MUN culture; imparting a sense of responsibility accepting that the onus is on us to be the forerunners of change. The fundamental premise of a Model UN is to develop our understanding of the issues and conflicts in the world as a collective, and to connect individuals with vastly differing life experiences with each other. The pursuit of quantitative success and accolades has fermented a tradition of MUN being a space mired in hostility and distrust. The LUMUN Spirit is our continuing effort to inculcate empathy, compassion, understanding and diplomacy within this competitive activity. As we proceed on our journey of revamping Model UN, the LUMUN Spirit is an idea that we aspire to incorporate in the entire LUMUN experience: from the Host Team, to an expectation that we will have from the delegates as well. It is not an abstract concept – it is a vision that should embody the behavior of every delegate in every committee. Inside the committee or out; the enthusiasm to meet other people, present arguments in a true ambassadorial manner and the idea to enjoy LUMUN should never be forgotten. In this very essence we will be able to represent what it means to simulate a true world model; an actual representation of the United Nations. We continue to strive and ensure that the outlook of LUMUN XVII is to not be an average Model UN conference anymore. And so, leadership and prowess within a committee is not characterized by exerting one’s overbearing presence on others or by alienating and excluding others from discussion. They manifest in a delegate’s ability to engage with others, help them play their part in the committee, and to facilitate the committee as a whole to engage in a fruitful and informative debate. This includes actions as simple as maintaining a moderate temperament, inviting others’ input and operating with honesty and respect. The LUMUN Society invites you to understand what it means to be an ambassador of a country and represent its foreign policy means to employ collaboration alongside reasoned argumentation to press forward with that actor’s policy agenda. In order to fully understand how to imbibe the LUMUN Spirit within your actions in the committee, we would recommend this instructional video, uploaded to the society’s’ YouTube channel. It will assist you significantly in carrying the spirit of true Model UN diplomacy during and beyond LUMUN. Dear delegates, My name is Imaad Hasan Jafri and I will be serving as the Secretary-General of this 17th edition of the LUMS Model UN conference (LUMUN). It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you all to what shall be the largest and most prestigious online Model UN conference in South Asia. I am loath to refer to these times we are now experiencing as unprecedented, given the abundant usage of that term. However, any competitive activity that seeks to define itself around global affairs must adapt to prevailing circumstances and carve out a space for itself to contribute to any and all relevant discourse. To adapt means to weather the challenges disrupting our collective being and to continue our journeys of growth, learning and connection, as best as we can. Pursuing the same goals and objectives we held dear before the advent of this uncertainty can be a testament to our fortitude. The theme for this year, ‘Foster Resilience for a World Uncharted’, encapsulates this attitude. Not only does LUMUN seek to surpass expectations given the online format, but we hope to include discussions and debate that can inform our approach to a world that is suffering from and will eventually emerge from this challenging period. At LUMUN, our task is to develop the skills and gain the intellectual understanding required to better explain our world. A delegate who seeks to learn from LUMUN emerges with a greater penchant for sifting through the barrage of misinformation and hollow rhetoric that plagues political discourse today. Any committee at any MUN has the responsibility to facilitate its delegates in exploring their understanding of the world and of how to work with others in the face of adversity. The challenges we face today require nuanced conceptions of the world around us. The task that lies ahead of you entails comprehending the struggles and conflicts of today's world and to offer solutions that are economically and politically feasible. In the pursuit of this, I believe delegates must engage fully in presenting argumentation that conforms to logic and reality. Delegates must ensure that their interaction with others in the committee is done with amicability and integrity. Allow yourselves to delve into minor details and elaborate policy all the while maintaining your country’s principal and practical viewpoints. As for myself, I am a Political Science major at LUMS, now in my final year. Speaking in public has become second nature to me. I have seen success at several local MUNs and have obtained an Outstanding Diplomacy award at Model UN Turkey 2019. I have also participated extensively in several parliamentary debate tournaments at the university level, including representing LUMS at the United Asians Debating Championship 2019 and 2020. My love for public speaking is matched only by my love for Brooklyn Nine-Nine, P.G. Wodehouse and Lorde. I look forward immensely to welcoming you virtually to LUMUN XVII this winter! Indeed, to cite my newest entertainment media obsession, this is the Way. Imaad Hasan Jafri Secretary-General LUMUN 2020-21 Dear Delegates, To say that the world is going through tough and unprecedent times will be an understatement. Over the last year, our country, and the world at large, has experienced radical changes in nearly every sphere of society – whether that may be with regards to social interactions, the economy and how we conceptualize development, or international diplomacy – and has given rise to questions the leaders of tomorrow must find answers to. In such a time, the concept of debate and discourse is a novel one. Especially those of us who are privileged enough to raise our voices, we must continuously learn and unlearn and develop our worldview through nuanced discussions regarding the most imminent issues that plague our world. At LUMUN 17, we aim to provide you a platform to do exactly that. As a society, we pride ourselves upon being more than just Model UN, and as a Conference, it is no different. LUMUN is more than the award you win or do not win – it’s an opportunity to make friends from all across Pakistan and the world, to debate on important issues in front of, and with, incredibly talented and intelligent individuals, and most importantly, an opportunity to learn like none other. Be kind, engage and empathize, and be open to learn, and I promise that the takeaways from this Conference will be much more significant than the award. Lastly, a bit about me: my name is Shahmir Ahmad and I will be serving as an Under Secretary-General at LUMUN 17. I am a sophomore student at LUMS, intending to major in Economics. I am a public speaking enthusiast through and through, and the time I do not spend at Model UN or debate competitions is spent watching cricket or crippling under academic workload. Most importantly, I am incredibly excited to welcome you all this winter. You can always reach out to me whenever you need any assistance whatsoever. Best, Shahmir Ahmad USG LUMUN 17 Hello everyone! My official name is Syed Shaheryar Hussain (but you can call me Sherry as most of my friends do). I am a junior at LUMS, majoring in Economics, and am also a Public-Policy enthusiast. My journey with LUMUN dates back to 2016 when I first attended the conference as a delegate (and didn’t quite fare off that well, in all honesty). What a story it could have been, with life coming around full circle and me sitting on the other side of the same room I was a delegate in! Well, due to unfortunate events in China, there is no room this time around. In this virtual setting, I owe you all even more to ensure that your LUMUN experience is not compromised. A bit about myself: I am an aspiring philanthropist and actively engage myself in endeavors of community service. I also love Coldplay, Strings, and have recently discovered a gem in the form of Kaavish. When I am not busy rooting for Real Madrid or Rafael Nadal, I can be found reading philosophy, learning Spanish, or playing Pokemon. In terms of my MUN-ing capabilities, I have had the honor of winning the Best Delegate Awards at MUNTR 2019 and MUNTR 2020. If you are coming to the Prime Minister’s Crisis Cell: firstly ‘ghabrana nahi hai’; secondly, you are here to learn. Wanting to win is alright; this is how humans are designed to function. However, suppose your only motivation is to win and not understand the intricacies involved in resolving public policy. In that case, my very educated guess is that neither will you win nor will you look back at this conference with memories that you cherish. Really excited to welcome you all to LUMUN XVII. See you soon! Syed Shaheryar Hussain, Committee Director LUMUN XVII Esteemed Member of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Over the years, you have proven to be one of our party’s most competent and trusted members. I recognize your services towards the country and am incredibly grateful I have you by my side.

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