What is VICS?
For fifteen years, the Virginia International Crisis Simulation (VICS) has been hosted by the International Relations Organization (IRO) at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. All conference events take place on the historic Grounds of the University, which provide an excellent, historic location for the delegates to engage in a variety of crisis simulations. While the conference has been growing in the past few years, the goal of VICS is to provide an in-depth look into the crisis style of Model UN debate
while preserving the small nature of committees. With over 100 staffers from the International Relations Organization, VICS XV promises to be an exhilarating experience.
VICS XV will be held from March 25th to March 28th 2010. See the Schedule Page for the tentative conference schedule.
Hopefully we have anticipated many of your questions with the following information, but if we have missed anything, please do not hesitate to contact the Secretary-General, Marina Arnold.
Who runs VICS?
VICS is governed by a six member Secretariat:
The Director-General, Naz Mertsoy, is in charge of creating the unique array of committees and crises for VICS. While many chairs create crises of their own accord, the Director-General facilities discussion on types and styles of crises to assist chairs in brainstorming and finalizing committees. Committee policy regarding crises, committee procedure, and chair guidelines falls under the Director-General's jurisdiction.
The Chief of Staff, Claire Saba, is responsible for organizing the staff for the conference, and room arrangements around grounds. Without the work of the Chief of Staff, the conference would lack staffers to facilitate crises and carry out all of the behind the scenes efforts.
The Under-Secretary-General for Public Relations, Mitch Gamso, is in charge of planning the social events available at VICS, such as the FratSim (Fraternity Simulation), the head delegate soiree, and the head delegate drink off. He will also set up the catering for the conference, as well as seek out corporate sponsorship and business donations.
The Under-Secretary-General for Logistics, Brett Levinson, is responsible for all of the materials required for VICS. He ensures the timely production of placards, brochures, name badges, folders, and replacement items required at any time during the conference.
Finally, the Secretary-General, Marina Arnold, coordinates and oversees all of the different aspects of the conference. Please contact her any questions or concerns
While each Secretariat member serves a specific function, all have a broad understanding of VICS and are able to answer any questions or concerns you may have before and during the conference. Please do not hesitate to contact or talk to any of us, or any of the UVa students staffing VICS. We are here to make sure you and your delegates have the best experience possible!
Committees
How are committees organized?
VICS has a unique conference format that has recently been catching on throughout the college Model United Nations circuit. Rather than having a variety of different committee styles, VICS only contains small, fast-paced crises with approximately twenty delegates. Despite the sole committee type, the topics of the cover both conventional and truly innovate topics. Past committees include unconventional ideas like the New York Mafia and the Google Management Team. For those that prefer more conventional committees, VICS always offers interesting crises in a more traditional setting. An example would be a historical Russian Cabinet and the Executive Yuan of China.
VICS usually features approximately 15 committees with a special committee entitled Secretary-General's Good Offices. This application only committee is secretive about topic until the final weeks for the conference. This prestigious committee is designed to truly test delegates on their diplomacy rather than their pre-conference research.
If you have any questions about the unique nature of VICS and the committee style, do not hesitate to contact the Secretary General Marina Arnold.
When will the final committees be posted?
VICS usually releases the committees and their chairs during the winter. While it is unfortunate they are not available prior to conference registration, there is always a wide array of committees. The Director General ensures there are crises that vary by region, style of crisis, and the degree to which the committees are traditional or unconventional.
The Charge d'Affaires will send VICS updates to the head delegates from the time when a school registers to the commencement of the conference. These updates will include the status of chairs and committees. As soon as the committees are finalized and posted on the website, the Charge will send an email update. That being said, it is worthwhile to periodically check the VICS website for any updates.
How do delegates prepare for VICS?
Prior to the conference, all committees will have background guides available on the VICS website. These background guides are meant to provide a starting point for delegates to begin their own research. Chairs will supply additional articles, links, and readings which might help in this endeavor. In order to facilitate debate and real world conflict, it is important that students research not only the topics at hand, but the position they will take on those topics.
At the same time, the amount of research usually required for non crisis style committees is not as necessary for VICS. This is not to say VICS Secretariat suggests little preparation for the conference, rather extensive research for crisis committees tends to be less helpful than for General Assembly committees. While a certain level of background knowledge is required to understand the crisis, the delegates have the capacity to create history and build off their research, and the crisis updates will contain most of the relevant information.
Position papers are not required, but encouraged. See below for more detailed information regarding position papers.
How do I register for VICS?
We strive to make registration as easy and convenient as possible. This year, complete registration, including committee selection is available online. Registering for VICS involves four easy steps:
Step One: Fill out the online form on the Registration page, including committee selection. After we receive your registration, we will send you an e-mail confirmation. Please check that all the information is correct.
Step Two: Send your school registration fee of $70 made payable to the International Relations Organization to the address:
VICS
Box 400435
Newcomb Hall Station
Charlottesville VA, 22904-4435
Step Three: After we receive your school fee and committee requests, we will e-mail your head delegate a conference registration confirmation. Priority Delegate fees are $65 per delegate but increase to $75 per delegate after the priority registration deadline expires on Tuesday, December 9. A more detailed outline of registration dates can be found below. Checks should be made payable to the International Relations Organization and sent to the address above.
Step Four: As the conference draws closer an exact time will be posted and emailed to the head delegates to come to Newcomb Hall to check in and complete final registration.
Registration Dates and Fees:
Priority Registration opens Friday, October 9, 2009.
Priority Registration ends Tuesday, December 8, 2009.
Priority Delegate fee: $65 per delegate due by Tuesday, December 15, 2009.
Regular Registration ends Tuesday, February 9, 2010.
Regular Delegate fee: $75 per delegate due by Tuesday, February 16, 2010.
Refund Policies:
The school fee and the priority delegate fees are non-refundable. We will give a $25 refund to schools that notify us by Monday, February 15, 2010. If drops are made after this date, delegate fees are still owed in full.
IMPORTANT: You must register and we must receive your delegate fees before you will receive committee/position preferences. Delegates will not receive a committee assignment until their full delegate fee is received. The attendance of every delegate is extremely important to the success of our small-sized committees. For this reason, the registration policy is strictly enforced and no exceptions will be made with regards to payment.
What is VICS policy regarding position papers?
Position papers are encouraged but not required at VICS XV, and they will most likely factor into consideration when committee awards are decided. Position papers are a wonderful opportunity for delegates to put their research to tangible use, and as a way to organize their policy initiatives before the conference.
We ask that all papers be typed, using standard size font, with reasonable margins and spacing. As always, papers must feature clear citations, and we expect a reference page at the end of any papers that have sources cited.
Each chair will post their individual guidelines regarding position papers on their committee page, should they have any. Some of the committees will feature different structures or will not have a pre-assigned agenda, so delegate preparation for those simulations will be left to the discretion of the committee staff.
All position papers should be turned in to the chair during the first committee session.
What are the fees and refund policy?
Please see our Fees Page for information and payment options.
Fees:
$70 school fee (both priority and regular)
$65 fee per priority registration delegate
$75 fee per regular registration delegate
We understand that often circumstances change and delegates suddenly cannot attend. Unfortunately, both school and delegate fees are non-refundable, but a $25 dollar reimbursement can be returned if VICS Secretariat is notified by Monday, February 15 2010.
Where do we stay?
Our Hotels Page has a list of recommended hotels in Charlottesville. VICS does not reserve rooms on behalf of schools; this is the responsibility of the sponsor. Most of these hotels are within walking distance of University Grounds (ten to fifteen minute walk to most committees.) When choosing a hotel, please take location into consideration as you must supply your own transportation to committee and other conference events.
I have other questions.
Please email the Secretary-General, Marina Arnold, with further questions, or email the individual Secretariat member to whom your question pertains.
