Overview
From Blackbeard to Captain Jack Sparrow, from the most fearsome swashbucklers to the most inspiring leaders, the pirates pillaged and raided ships and settlements in the Caribbean and its surroundings for treasures and adventure. During the Golden Age of Piracy from the 1650s to 1730s, piracy ran just as rampant as the flow of gold from the Spanish galleons, ripe for attack. But despite all of the violence, pirates managed to pull off a democratic experiment older than America itself, the pirate code. Pirate codes served as codes of conduct for each ship, which were voted upon by every member of the crew and established set rules for crimes, punishment, liberties, and life on the ship. Delegates must channel their inner buccaneers to draft and pass their own pirate code before setting sail themselves to get their own cut of the pirates booty on a swashbuckling adventure.
Topic 1: Organizing the High Seas
Though pirates lived a life of lawlessness, they, like merchant ships, needed some sort of authority in order to succeed. Pirate codes, or articles of agreement, originated in the seventeenth century and outlined expectations for payment and conduct. Generally, articles were similar across ships in the eighteenth century, especially in their focus on maintaining order and guaranteeing loyalty. In the process of creating the articles, crews also elected their captain and quartermaster. Most importantly, these articles required unanimous consent. All crew members swore on a Bible or, for lack of a Bible, another object to these articles. Pirates created additional articles when multiple ships joined together on expeditions.
Topic 2: Disordering the High Seas
The second topic for the 18th-century Golden Age of Piracy is to address the economic and political fallout of plundering. Pirate activities severely reduced tradable assets, discouraged production, and raised prices for consumers, leading to calls for government intervention. However, some colonial administrators strategically tolerated smuggling and piracy when it benefited local economies, causing conflicts with neighboring colonies. Delegates must now navigate increasing imperial crackdowns, including the implementation of universal jurisdiction and new Vice-Admiralty courts, to determine if the pirate way of life can survive or if empires will finally restore order to the Atlantic.
The Dais
Ezra Zhang
Ezra Zhang (he/they) is a first-year student at Boston University studying Political Science. He hails from North Carolina, famously known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," a fitting origin for the Chair of this Historical Crisis Committee. He is delighted to serve as Chair for the United Nations Security Council: Disordering the High Seas, marking his first-ever BosMUN conference.
Ezra started Model UN in high school, and since arriving at BU, he has joined the competitive team, MUN@BU, and staffed their collegiate conference, BarMUN. This experience has prepared him to lead the high-stakes, double-delegate environment of the UNSC as delegates navigate the complex world of 18th-century piracy and colonial conflict.
Outside of Model UN, Ezra is a theatrical technician, primarily focusing on lighting design. In his free time, he enjoys cross-stitching, listening to music (primarily 2000s rock), and cheering on the BU hockey team at games.
He is eager to see the delegates' creativity and unique ideas shine during the conference and values both confidence and the content of their arguments. Ezra encourages all delegates to feel free to email him with any questions as they prepare to "sail the high seas" together.
Contact: egzhang@bu.edu
Faye Gnardelli - Vice Chair
Foteini Gnardelli, who goes by Faye, is currently a sophomore at Boston University majoring in Political Science and Economics with a minor in History. She is delighted to serve as the Vice Chair for this Model UN conference. This event holds special significance as it is her first MUN experience competing in the United States, as she is originally from Greece.
Faye began her Model UN journey during high school. After taking a short break following her freshman year of college, she is glad to be hopping back into the world of fruitful debate and diplomacy in her sophomore year. She looks forward to the high-level strategy and engagement that the committee is sure to bring.
Outside of her academics and Model UN commitments, Faye enjoys several relaxing hobbies. She loves to go on walks with her friends to discover new areas in Boston, often listening to music while she explores. Other interests include crocheting and reading a good book.
Faye is excited to meet all the delegates in February and hear the amazing ideas and solutions they develop for the crisis at hand. She encourages anyone with questions about the committee prior to the conference to feel free to reach out to her via email.
Contact: fgnardel@bu.edu