Nothing Natural About This: A Night at the American Museum of Natural History, 2024
The year is 2024, and the New York City Council has received word that something unnatural is going on within the American Museum of Natural History. One night, a night guard within the museum saw something quite odd within the Mayan exhibit–rather than remaining as static objects, it appeared as though the landscape and figures within it were living, moving around as though they were alive. Being very interested in the museums of New York City, this investigation is being taken up by a specialized commission composed of members of the City Council as well as outside help to get to the bottom of whatever is going on. As part of this committee, delegates are tasked with the investigation of this lively Mayan exhibit, which can only be done by becoming a living figure within it. Delegates will live as though they are a part of this exhibit, experiencing whatever crisis occurs through the lens of figures from the time period. While the committee has been informed of only one exhibit’s strange activities, who knows if there is a greater problem at play? This committee will require the utmost creativity and flexibility as the museum evolves. Only one thing within this museum is certain: actions have consequences.
This is an advanced, fast-paced committee that will involve three exhibits that feature different time periods over the course of the weekend. We highly recommend that delegates have experience competing on crisis committees on the collegiate circuit before competing on this committee.
khristian bass
Chair
Khristian is a third-year at the college majoring in Public Policy and Psychology. He was born in the great Gun Barrel City, Texas, a place so unknown that he always has to say that it is “an hour South-East of Dallas.” Within MUN, Khristian served as an Assistant Chair for The Kingdom of Serbia at ChoMUN XXV, a Crisis Director for Bega Cheese Board of Directors at ChoMUN XXVI, a Crisis Director on a committee at UChicago’s high school conference, and competes with UChicago’s travel team. Outside of MUN, Khristian is very active in a wide variety of things. He is a euphonium player in the University Wind Ensemble (everyone asks what a euphonium is, but it is basically a smaller tuba, look it up it means beautiful sound), a writer for the University’s Law Magazine, a chair for the University’s Pre-Law frat, and a lover of poker and all things gambling (it isn’t an addiction, I can stop at any time, I swear). He is also an avid supporter of Arsenal F.C. Khristian is very excited to be an executive within this night at the American Museum of Natural History, and is excited to see how delegates will adapt and overcome all of the challenges that this weekend will bring.
If you want to reach out to him about anything from gambling to cheese his email is khristian548@uchicago.edu.
Akshay Joglekar
Crisis Director
Akshay is a fourth-year in the College who comes from the great state of Connecticut. He is majoring in Economics and minoring in Quantitative Social Analysis. He has been involved in Model UN since the beginning of high school and served in ChoMUN XXIV as an AC for “DCC: We Are in Our Mountains - Modern Independence of Armenia,” ChoMUN XXV as a CD for “JCC: Kad Zora Svane: Kingdom of Serbia, 1918,” and ChoMUN XXVI as a CD for “the Saffron Resurrection: the Maratha Confederacy, 1761.” Outside of MUN and classwork, Akshay spends his time learning about random parts of history, dabbling with linguistics, playing the piano and jazz guitar, and practicing Taekwondo. He looks forward to any chance to bring a sword fight into a crisis update and is at least vaguely aware of what the topic of this committee is.
If you have any questions or just want to reach out with a fun fact about literally anything, email him at akshayjoglekar@uchicago.edu.
Kait Albarran
CRISIS DIRECTOR
Kait is a third-year from San Antonio, Texas who is aggressively Texan; she loves Tex-Mex, barrel racing, the Astros, and Tejano music. Her first-year, Kait was an AC in ChoMUN XXV’s JCC, Kad Zora Svane: Kingdom of Serbia, 1918, and enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to return as a CD for One Penguin, One Vote: Dividing Antarctica, 2023 and this committee! Outside ChoMUN, Kait is the USG of Hybrid Committees for MUNUC, UChicago’s high school MUN conference, and, outside the MUNiverse in general, she is majoring in Biological Chemistry on the pre-medical track with a minor in Linguistics. Kait is a chaos stan and is looking forward to aiding and abetting some shenanigans/tomfoolery during your night at the American Museum of Natural History. She is excited to meet y’all at ChoMUN XXVII!
Please do not hesitate to contact her about any questions you may have (or even if you just want to share a cute cat picture) at kalbarran@uchicago.edu.
Secretariat oversight:
jiayi yue, Under-secretary-general