United Nations Security Council: On Maya Last Legs!
Double Delegate Crisis Committee
unsc@uclamun.org
Committee Summary
Topic: The Classic Maya Collapse (7th-9th Centuries CE)
Committee Summary: Civilizations rise and civilizations fall. And delegates, you have a first row seat to see if the Mayan civilization shall fall or see a second rise. You’re set in the Mayan Civilization from the 7th to the 9th century CE as forerunners of the civilization that made historical achievements in astronomy, mathematics, and timekeeping in city-states with incredible architecture that persists until the present. During this time period, the collapse of the Mayans led to a sharp population decline, a fragmentation of society, and disruptions in trade and agriculture, leading to shifts in settlements that can still be felt today.
In LAMUN’s first ever historical UNSC and the only committee at LAMUN concerning Latin America, you could change the trajectory of the entire region. Taking into account the needs of various city-states and their populations while balancing the natural concerns of the environment, delegates must recognize that propping up an entire civilization on the verge of collapse requires more than just creative policy solutions, but true diplomacy and negotiation with each other. The Classic Mayan Collapse serves as a reminder of what could happen if issues like disease, drought, and environmental changes run rampant, but the lessons learned in this committee could prove invaluable when answering the same issues in the contemporary age.
Meet The Staff
Rahil Siddiqi
Chair
Dear Delegates,
My name is Rahil Siddiqi, and it is a great honor to welcome you as your chair to the UNSC at LAMUN XXI – an especially monumental committee with our ancient historical setting. I am currently a third year Political Science student from nearby Pasadena, California, and have spent much of my life in the greater Los Angeles area. Naturally, feel free to ask for recommendations on how to enjoy your weekend in the greatest city America has to offer.
My time in MUN spans all the way back to 8th grade, competing at the YMCA’s annual Southern California Model UN conference. While competing in High School, Covid and other personal obligations had distanced me from this activity. However, while studying abroad in Bulgaria last year, I was fortunate enough to participate in a similarly designed Model EU conference, reminding me of the many elements of MUN I appreciate – tense negotiations, passionate (yet civil) speeches and argumentation, and ultimately the knowledge, memories, and friendships we walk away with.
Outside of MUN, you can find me researching and writing as a Legal Assistant for work and as a contributor to our school’s International Affairs newspaper. In my free time, I enjoy playing/arguing about football with friends and family (Here We Go Steelers,) advising poor political predictions on Polymarket, and collecting dad lore through traveling abroad. Given my interest in politics, I’m especially excited to see how you as delegates navigate the Mayan collapse, staking your claims in an increasingly tumultuous period of history. It is a great pleasure to serve as your chair, and I look forward to providing you with a great committee and LAMUN experience. Please feel free to reach out to Vee and I with any questions or concerns. See you soon!
Best,
Rahil Siddiqi
Chair | The Classic Maya Collapse | LAMUN XXI
Vaibhav Aggarwal
Crisis Director
Dear Delegates,
My name is Vaibhav Aggarwal, but you can call me Vee. I’m a third year Anthropology and Asian American Studies major. Outside of Model UN at UCLA, I’ve been involved in the Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC) and currently intern at a local law firm back home. In addition to academics, you can find me side-questing all throughout Los Angeles! I’m consistently looking for different concerts to go to and finding new artists to listen to. If I’m not doing that, you can probably find me trying new restaurants and cafes with my roommates or gallery-hopping across the city. Let me know if you want any recommendations!
Model UN at UCLA has been one of the best decisions I’ve made since coming to college. After doing high school Model UN on and off until my senior year, I took a break my freshman year of college. In my sophomore year, I chose to staff our high school conference, BruinMUN, and haven’t looked back since after making so many good friends. Through MUN at UCLA, I’ve traveled across the country competing at various conferences. In addition to that, I’ve staffed BruinMUN as a dais staffer for the African Development Bank and was a crisis staffer last year for the UNSC at LAMUN XX.
I’ve been on a lot of historical committees throughout my career in MUN and I can’t wait to see the creative ways you all find to impact the committee. I’m so excited to CD for all of you. I know this will be a committee for the books!
I rejoined Model UN because of my interest in debate and utilizing diplomacy to solve real, pertinent issues. I stayed in Model UN because of the experiences I’ve had, the places I’ve been able to visit, and the people I’ve been fortunate to meet over the time I’ve been in this activity. I can’t wait to meet all of you at LAMUN and I hope to be a resource for you to navigate this fun and amazing committee we have planned for you this year!
Warmly,
Vaibhav Aggarwal
On Maya Last Legs! The Classic Maya Collapse, 7th-9th Centuries CE | LAMUN XXI