BMUN LXX CSOCD

Hello again delegates! Here's a little review on some key terms, themes, and ideas from the synopsis that we will touch upon, either in your research papers or in March. For further emphasis, read our topic synopsis (which is linked on the BMUN website) and do your own personal research! Topic A Trauma: Actual, possible, and/or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Exposure to trauma, either directly or indirectly, is a necessary condition for the diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD Symptoms: Positive symptoms (distressing nightmares, hyper-vigilance, intrusive thoughts of reliving traumatic events) and negative symptoms (reduced interest in activities, lowered energy, memory loss, self isolation). PTSD rates and symptoms are gender, culture, and geologically specific. An estimated 345 million adult survivors of war suffered from PTSD or had experienced trauma related depression due to their war experiences. Rehabilitation: A process aimed at enabling ...

 Hi Everyone!       With conference right around the corner, we wanted to provide you with a break down of why we chose to focus on our particular topics. In regards to Topic A, there are plenty of committees and organizations that detail refugee disasters and situations. There is an expansive array of statistics and data readily available on the internet, but very little data on the individual experiences of refugees. Coupled with resource mismanagement, natural disasters, and armed conflict, refugees are overburdened with mental illness -- yet this is hardly ever discussed in a global setting. This topic necessitates you approach research from a different angle, especially with regards to facts and background knowledge. Don't focus on the country impact; zoom in on the people themselves.      Topic B followed a similar selection process in that we were searching for another common topic that could be analyzed from a new point of view. Very littl...

       Hello, everyone! My name is  Olive Roerich. I am a senior majoring in Global Studies and minoring in Philosophy. This is my second conference chairing at BMUN, and I am so excited to see everyone back (as well as all the newbies)! Although I never did MUN in high school, I come from a Mock Trial background. While in MUN, I also volunteer for a domestic violence hotline and at a restraining order self-help center with JusticeCorps. I also love to exercise, hang out with friends, play guitar, and write music.      After graduation, I hope to take a gap year and travel around the world. I am incredibly excited to do the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile Catholic pilgrimage that starts in France and ends in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. I am looking forward to potentially living on a commune in Germany and/or shadowing a death doula. After my year is done, I will be attending law school somewhere on the east coast (hopefully). I am very passionat...

Hi everyone! My name is Allyson Velez and I am senior at Cal studying public health and public policy. I have been doing MUN since I was in the 7th grade so this is my 10th, and final year, of MUN. I am very excited to share my last ever conference with all of you this March. I am very passionate about health inequities, particularly the social determinants of health and racial/ethnic health disparities. I am very eager to read all your papers and resolutions regarding our two very prominent and relevant health topics.  When I am not doing school work I love spending my time at the beach (I am a sunset enthusiast), going on hikes with my dogs, or kickboxing! Originally from Southern California, I have been enjoying living near SF for the past 4 years. I am always open to trying a new restaurant in the city, exploring the sites of San Francisco, and just exploring the Bay Area in general. After graduation I will be pursuing health policy at the state level. I am hoping to use my deg...

 HELLO DELEGATES!! My name is Ryan Fiorito, and I am so stoked to be your head chair for the Commission on Social Development at BMUN LXX. This committee is going to be a little bit of a divergence from the typical MUN experience, and I plan to utilize my background in Psychology to properly inform our topics of mental health and trauma rehabilitation as well as social development, and I couldn't be more excited to share what we as a dais have researching with you all! A little more about me -- I come from Hermosa Beach, California, and am a fourth year at UC Berkeley studying Psychology and Linguistics. I am primarily interested in understanding how people communicate, collaborate, and engage in conflict. I have been doing Model UN for just over 8 years, and have experience debating in and chairing all types of committees. Outside of BMUN, I am involved in an International Relations fraternity and also love comedy and perform in two improv groups on campus! I love cooking, thrifti...

 Hello everyone! My name is Amber Chen and I'm honored to be your vice chair for CSocD70. I'm a first year intending to study Sociology, interested in Philosophy, Ethnic Studies, and Queer/Gender Studies. I am particularly passionate about mental health in intersectional minority, queer, and youth spaces as well as general social justice.  My hobbies outside of academics include cooking/baking, writing, listening to music, and being chronically online. Some of my favorite things include Stardew Valley, Mitski, Pride and Prejudice (2005), Avatar the Last Airbender, and Taiwanese beef noodle soup. While growing up in Irvine, California, I participated in Mock Trial instead of Model United Nations so this is my first conference ever! I hope that encourages you to go out of your comfort zone, take initiative, and be kind to one another (including/especially me <3) as we all learn and improve together. In CSocD, we will be delving into non-political topics that will hopefully br...