Reading Between the Reigns: The Babington Cipher Crisis, 1586
History books flatten 1586 into a straight line: secret plot, swift arrest, triumphant Elizabeth. In reality, the court was rife with myriad complex troubles and mismatched incentives, including a treasury on life-support, nobles juggling French pensions, and agents whispering of a Spanish armada nobody could finance. The Babington Cipher Crisis of 1586 covers all this before Sunday roast. As a delegate, you sit on the Privy Council—replete with hardened Cecil partisans and others chasing Puritan reforms, though all haunted by the specter of succession. A single ciphered letter, intercepted en route to Mary Queen of Scots, threatens to ignite civil war or foreign invasion depending on how it’s read and who leaks it first. Every directive you draft—mobilizing ships at Tilbury, courting French Huguenots, controlling any populist sentiment—carries trade-offs measured in coin, credibility, and cannon shot.
Expect succession arguments about bullion flows, sea-dog privateering schemes pitched over ale, and the uncomfortable math of whether executing Mary deters or provokes Spanish reprisal. And underneath, backroom is slated to test just how far loyalty to Crown can bend before it breaks. Thus, it's up to delegates whether England emerges a Protestant bastion, a bankrupt vassal, or a right muddle altogether.
Emma Tung
Chair
Emma is a fourth year in the College majoring in Psychology, minoring in Neuroscience and Health & Society. Emma was born in San Francisco, California, living most of her life in the Bay Area before moving to boarding school in Boston, Massachusetts (preference for the East). Throughout high school, Emma competed in Model UN even with a fear of public speaking. Outside of MUN, she loves to play tennis, basketball, ski, dance (even in the living room), and make sports bets that she inevitably loses.
Previously, Emma has served as a Chair for High Steaks, High Reward at ChoMUN XXVII, as well as a Chair for Bega Cheese Board of Directors at ChoMUN XXVI. Emma is excited to be your chair this year at ChoMUN XXIX! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Emma at etung22@uchicago.edu
Allen Tousi
Crisis Director
Allen is a fourth-year in the College studying economics and statistics. He’s from Montgomery County, Maryland, but says he’s from the DMV because he thinks it sounds cooler. Allen’s ChoMUN experience began in his first year, where he served as an AC for the AdHoc of the Secretary-General. Since then, he’s CD’d for Crème de la Prem, English Premier League 1992, and the UNSC, Second Libyan Civil War 2014 in his second and third years respectively—of course, he can’t wait to run it back one last time this year.
Outside of MUN, you can find Allen playing the guitar, quoting Curb Your Enthusiasm, or wandering the bookstacks of the Reg for a new read. Allen is super excited to serve as your CD for ChoMUN XXIX, and can’t wait to see delegates navigate this committee! If you have any questions, please reach out at tousi@uchicago.edu.
Kelly Liu
CRISIS DIRECTOR
Kelly is a fourth-year in the College studying Economics and Philosophy with a minor in Statistics. She was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and went to the same high school as New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson. Since competing for four years in high school, Kelly has staffed UChicago’s high school and collegiate conferences, including serving as a Crisis Director for Not That Castro: Cipriano Castro’s Cabinet at ChoMUN XXVIII, as well as chairing the UNSC at last year’s high school conference.
Outside of MUN, you can find Kelly at a coffee shop with an iced vanilla latte with oat, playing volleyball, or clearing out the 10,906 photos in her camera roll. Kelly cannot wait to be your Crisis Director for ChoMUN XXIX, and if you have any questions, please reach out at kellyliu3@uchicago.edu.
Secretariat oversight:
Lulu deluca, Under-secretary-general