Game of sultans:

The reign of Roxelana, 1533

 

An enamored sultan. A harem of jealous lovers. A fracturing Imperial Council. All marked the rise of the most powerful woman in the Ottoman Empire. In the fifteenth century, Roxelana, born into slavery, ensnared the heart of the sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, earning the name ‘Hurrem Sultan’. As always, love came at a cost. Suleiman and Roxelana’s marriage was a threat to the established order. Never before had a member of the harem come to possess such political influence. Several of the sultan’s viziers and other women in his harem were jealous. In particular, Mustafa–the son of Mahidevran, one of Suleiman’s other prominent consorts–hoped to dethrone her. Delegates acting as palace frequenters will navigate the reign of Roxelana–forming and defending factions in support of or against her, while protecting the foreign interest of the empire at large against the threat of war with the Safavids. Politics, drama, and betrayal spin together in a fast-paced tale of one of history's most impactful feuds–can anyone win?


Anjali Pullabhotla

Chair

Anjali is a fourth-year majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. She is excited to be serving as Chair! This is her first time in anything MUN-related. She is on the board of TechTeam and SASA, involved in Greek life, and works in Crerar library (which is where you can find her almost all the time). She spends most of her free time reading (mostly to keep her Goodreads up-to-date), trying to become less of a NARP (she runs and plays badminton), watching Criminal Minds, and scavenging for free food around campus.

Feel free to contact her with questions/concerns (or to fangirl over Aaron Hotchner and Spencer Reid) at apullabhotla@uchicago.edu!

Shayona Basu

Crisis Director

Shayona is a fourth-year majoring in Economics with a specialization in Data Science and double minoring in Physics and Computer Science. She spent 12 years in Dubai and then moved to Singapore, and therefore is part of Singapore Society. Having participated in MUN extensively in High School, this is her first time serving as Assistant Chair for a MUN committee in college. She is excited to become involved in MUN again, also signing up to chair MUNUC later in the year. Outside of MUN, she serves on the board of Environmental Research Group, Society of Women in Physics and regularly participates in Club Badminton and less so in IM Soccer (her favorite sport). She enjoys art, and loves sketching and enjoys making graphical illustrations for her RSO’s and advertising her friend’s parties. 

Feel free to reach out to her with any questions or concerns at shayona@uchicago.edu (She also loves Plein Air x.)

Giselle Miralles

CRISIS DIRECTOR

Giselle is a fourth-year majoring in Physics and minoring in Data Science and Visual Arts. She grew up outside of Houston (she’s a life-long fan of the Aggies). She is excited to be serving as CD for the committee! Outside of MUN, Giselle is involved in lab research, ERG, figure drawing, and ceramics. She enjoys anything arts- and crafts-related, growing basil, watching TikToks, and studying the life of her idol, Louis Pasteur. You can find her at Pret most of the time, perfecting her coffee order.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact her at gmiralles@uchicago.edu!

Diya Gandhi

Experienced Assistant Chair

Diya is a fourth year majoring in Molecular Engineering and double minoring in Computer Science and Art History. Outside of MUN and school, she is the president of UChicago's Environmental Research Group (ERG), involved in the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Society of Molecular Engineering (SME), and works in a computational chemistry research lab. She loves reading, baking (when it goes well), swimming, and participating in pub trivia. She was involved in MUN heavily in high school, but this is her first time back in a conference room in four years, and she's excited to experience it alongside all of you!

Feel free to contact her at diyagandhi@uchicago.edu with any questions or concerns!


Secretariat oversight:

Victor Brown, Under-secretary-general