Danger in the Water: The Construction of the Panama Canal, 1901 CE

 
 

The completion of the Panama Canal in 1914 marks a monumental feat in 20th-century global infrastructure and engineering. Extending about 50 miles across the Isthmus of Panama, this canal not only connected the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans but also revolutionized international maritime trade by significantly reducing trade route distances. While its impacts on the trading industry are widely acknowledged and celebrated, the politics leading to its construction are equally intricate and fascinating. Starting in 1901, two years prior to Panama’s independence, this historical and fast-paced committee will navigate Panama's complex network of international influences and conflicting powers, including the United States, France, and Colombia. It will delve into the roles of these powers, the workforce utilized for the canal’s construction, political strategies, major trading companies, and the Panamanian people to grasp the origins and impacts of one of humanity's most significant infrastructure achievements. The committee will be composed of government officials, trading company leaders, worker representatives, engineers, the Panamanian people, and environmental leaders, enabling delegates to assess the influence of all stakeholders in shaping the construction, timeline, and impact of the Panama Canal. Through the exploration of this intricate historical web, delegates can develop solutions that advance the Panama Canal's construction while addressing the diverse needs and aspirations of all involved parties, actively re-shaping history, and leaving behind a lasting legacy.

 

Esteemed Delegates,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Panama Canal Crisis committee of the seventy-first edition of Harvard Model United Nations.

My name is Steven Giraldo, I’m a junior at Harvard College studying Social Studies with a secondary in Statistics. Although I was born and raised in Colombia, I have been privileged to call Miami home for eight years before finding myself in the vibrant city of Boston. 

At Harvard, I'm heavily involved in Model United Nations, serving as the chief of staff for Harvard Intercollegiate Model UN – Harvard’s travel team – where I get to plan our team bonding events. I'm also a Crisis Director for both high school and college conferences, and have staffed both for the past two years. Outside of Model UN, I am an opinion writer for The Harvard Crimson’s editorial board and give tours for Crimson Key. Outside of campus, you'll find me longboarding, playing volleyball, enjoying good food, and yapping to my friends. 

The Harvard crisis committees are known for its distinctive, dynamic, and intellectually stimulating nature. I assure you that this iteration will not disappoint, challenging even the most adventurous and seasoned delegates among us. As your crisis director, I cannot wait to witness the innovative solutions you all collectively devise, even amidst the most challenging, intertwined, and distressing scenarios arising from the construction of the Panama Canal. 

Best of luck, 

Steven Giraldo

Director, Danger in the Water: The Construction of the Panama Canal, 1901 CE

panamacanal@harvardmun.org

Harvard Model United Nations 2025

 
 

Hello Delegates!

My name is Janaysa Dorcin, and I am so excited to serve as your Crisis Director for Harvard Model United Nations 2025!

I’m a sophomore at Harvard, concentrating in Government with a potential secondary in Educational Studies. I’m originally from the oh-so-great Miami, Florida, and my family proudly hails from Haiti. I’m a sucker for the sun, but only in moderation (keep me far, far away from sweat).

My first interaction with Model UN was with Harvard’s Intercollegiate Model United Nations team in the fall of my freshman year, and I haven’t turned back since. I compete regularly, and I staffed both HMUN and HNMUN as an Assistant Director. Outside of MUN, I serve as the director of outreach for Model Security Council (the recruitment branch of Harvard’s International Relations Council) and the campus outreach director for Harvard College Democrats. When I’m not living my best MUN life, you can find me obsessively rewatching Hamilton, playing Papa’s Freezeria, or working as a cashier at The Harvard Shop, a student-run merchandise shop.

Delegates, I am excited to see your dedication and creativity as your crisis director. Through interesting notes, daring and well-thought-out arcs, and calculated cooperation with others, you will bring about the Panama Canal we know today - I can’t wait to see the history you create.

See you soon,

Janaysa Dorcin

Crisis Director, Danger in the Water: The Construction of the Panama Canal, 1901 CE

panamacanal@harvardmun.org

Harvard Model United Nations 2025