Instituting Chaos: Night at the Art Institute of Chicago, 2027
The year is 2027. Exactly a year ago, the New York City Council received word of strange happenings at the Museum of Modern Art. Rather than remaining as static objects, the landscape and figures in the Silla Kingdom artwork were moving about—almost as if they were alive. Thanks to their prior experience at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural History, the City Council knew exactly what to do. They entered the artwork—becoming living figures—and worked together to resolve the exhibit's issues. Things seem to have calmed down in New York City, and the council has received no reports of any strange happenings at the Guggenheim (or heaven forbid the Whitney). No, this time strange things are afoot not in the Big Apple but in the Windy City. Chicago’s City Council has heard whispers of ancient Hittite artifacts moving around in the city’s acclaimed and extremely-worth-a-visit Art Institute, and now it is the Second City’s turn to save the world from artistic armageddon.
Delegates will simulate the Chicago City Council as they explore art and archaeology of the last years of the Hittites. They will experience life through the lens of figures from the time period, while working together to resolve the crises that occur. From the limited information we have received, travelers inside the artwork will be transported into the cabinet of King Suppiuliuma II of Hatti in 1196 BCE, but not much is known beyond that…
While the committee has been informed of only one exhibit’s strange activities, it’s almost guaranteed that others will be impacted as well. Each time, three exhibits have gone awry before the council could restore the museum to working order. This committee will require the utmost creativity and flexibility as the situation in the museum evolves. Only one thing is certain: actions have consequences…
This is an advanced committee, requiring delegates to craft multiple complete, distinct, and separate arcs on the fly. Art history is a super valid major but this committee does not focus on it; previous crisis experience (and improv, lowkey) is most important for your success in this committee. Additionally, any real exhibits in the art institute are coincidental and should not be used to predict the second and third topics of this committee, which will be revealed ad-hoc during committee.
Owen Wu
chair
Owen is a second-year student at the University of Chicago majoring in Political Science and Human Rights. While he loves the big city life, he always enjoys returning to his hometown in Georgia (the state, not the country). Last year, he served as an Assistant Chair for the Ad-Hoc Committee of the Director-General, and he is super excited to return to ChoMUN as a Chair this year! He is also an active member of UChicago’s competitive MUN team and chairs MUNUC, the high school conference.
When not competing or helping with MUN, Owen participates in many interesting things. Some might even say he is a curious, multifaceted, ambitious, inventive, compassionate, driven, articulate, thoughtful, adaptable, creative, perceptive, energetic, collaborative, insightful, witty, resourceful, empathetic, cultured, analytical, expressive, engaging, open-minded, dynamic, disciplined, adventurous, well-rounded, reflective, spirited, visionary, and humble individual. These activities include online shopping and watching reality TV shows.
Owen cannot wait to meet you all at ChoMUN XXX and is ready for a fantastic committee!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to him at owenwu@uchicago.edu.
Kay Shidle
crisis director
Kay is a second-year majoring in Chemical Molecular Engineering with a minor in Polymer Science. She is from the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, and no, she does not claim to be from “real” Chicago. In other MUNiverse experience, she served as a CD for the Sack of Rome at CHOMUN XXIX, a CD for MUNUC, and competes in UChicago’s traveling Model UN Team. Outside of MUN, Kay does research in a Molecular Engineering lab on synthesizing polymers for delivering cancer treatments, serves on the board of the Society of Women’s Engineers, and is an Organic Chemistry warrior. In her very limited free time, she can be found exploring museums with far too much excitement, reading pretentiously (Steinbeck, Camus, and Hemingway are her favorites), and voraciously playing strategy board games. Kay is incredibly excited to serve as your crisis director at ChoMUN XXX!
If you want to learn more about how to synthesize a peptide, which exhibits in the Art Institute ofChicago are the best (see: the Thorne Miniature Rooms!), or how to terraform mars, you can reach her at kshidle@uchicago.edu.
Ben Tytell
crisis director
Ben is a fourth-year student at the University of Chicago majoring in Political Science. He has been taking part in Model UN ever since he was in middle school, and he is excited to conclude his MUN journey at ChoMUN XXX!
Ben has been involved in every Night at the Museum committee since the concept’s inception three years ago, at ChoMUN XXVII. For that committee, he served as an AC; the next year, he served as EAC for ChoMUN XXVIII’s Night at the Museum; last year, he was CD, a role he is excited to reprise!
When not running zany three-part committees, you can find him playing Smash Bros. with his residents back at Booth House (Best House!).
In his free time, Ben enjoys slowly trying (and failing) to distance himself from the Theater Kid Allegations, grinding out his homework while listening to Pokémon and Mario Kart music, aimlessly staring at Google Earth and circumventing Chicago style as much as his grades will allow.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss whatever random part of the globe strikes your fancy, you are always welcome to reach out to him at bentytell@uchicago.edu. But he won’t tell you what the second and third topics are, so don’t ask.
Secretariat oversight:
khushi bora, under-secretary-general