Storms of Change in the Windy City: the 1968 Democratic National Convention -> Novice Crisis
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
To participate in VAMUN’s novice crisis, there are some criteria that must be met:
Never participated in a high school crisis committee
Have not participated in more than 4 conferences total (applicable to middle school and high school)
Have less than 3 awards (cumulative of both middle school and high school)
Have never won a Best Delegate award (applicable to middle school and high school)
If you meet ALL of these criteria, then you are eligible to participate in VAMUN’s novice crisis.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Topic one: The Battle for the Nomination
Topic two: Unrest and Riots in Chicago
Delegates, welcome to Chicago for the 1968 Democratic National Convention! The tragic assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in June has crashed the proceedings, and Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Senator Eugene McCarthy, Senator George McGovern, and more are squaring off for the opportunity to defeat Nixon and his “silent majority” in the fall. Against the backdrop of Vietnam War protests, mass civil unrest following Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, and political turbulence, delegates will have to think quickly and act decisively both inside and outside the convention hall. While Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley has refused permission for “anti-patriotic” groups to protest outside the convention, the story of the streets of Chicago and the 1968 election are in your hands.
Co-Chairs
Will hancock and Emmett o’brien
Will Hancock is a third year majoring in Economics and Poetry Writing. After first attending as a delegate, he staffed VAMUN in his first year and worked as the Under Secretary General of Delegations for VAMUN XLIII last fall. He leads the International Relations Organization (IRO), VAMUN’s parent organization, as president and participates in Flux Poetry and Spoken Word. He also stays actively involved with upholding UVA’s unique Honor system and enjoys debating and discussing pressing economic issues with the Alfred Marshall Society. In his free time, you can find Will watching UVA sports (wahoowa!), hiking, or writing poetry.
hqg4bu@virginia.edu
Emmett O'Brien is a third-year from Beaufort, South Carolina, studying Politics with a minor in French. Outside of IRO, he is a member of the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and a student assistant at the Miller Center for Public Affairs. In the rare case that he has any free time at all, Emmett can be found competing in trivia tournaments, reading any book by Kurt Vonnegut, or avidly watching college basketball (Go Hoos!). He's excited to welcome all of you to Grounds and is looking forward to an exciting and productive committee!
bpw3nr@virginia.edu
