La Fruta de la Discordia: Spring Under Siege, Guatemala, 1952
Welcome to Guatemala, 1952! Eight years ago, a revolution ended decades of authoritarian rule and promised something radical: democracy. Since then, Guatemala has built labor protections, expanded civil rights, and dared to imagine national sovereignty. Now President Jacobo Arbenz has just signed Decree 900, redistributing land from the powerful to the landless, seizing uncultivated United Fruit Company holdings, and finally giving Guatemalans a stake in the country they built with their hands.
This committee places you all as part of Arbenz’s advisory council, a room full of economists, labor leaders, military figures, landowners, legal scholars, and journalists, each with their own vision for Guatemala’s future…..and not all of them loyal to it.
The United Fruit Company controls the railroads. It controls the ports. It controls the narrative in Washington. And it is not going quietly. On top of that, landowners are hiding property records and bribing surveyors. The Supreme Court is eyeing Arbenz’s agrarian committees. The laboring class is occupying UFC land without authorization, handing your opponents exactly the propaganda weapon they have been waiting for. And a foreign-backed radio station is already on air, telling the world your government is a Soviet front.
The CIA is watching. The military’s loyalty is not guaranteed. A shipment at the port is about to become an international incident. The 1954 coup is not inevitable. Prove it.
This is a bilingual committee.
Delegates are expected to be fluent in both written and spoken English and Spanish.
Camila Olivares
chair
Camila Olivares is a second-year student from Dallas, Texas, studying Psychology and English at the College. At UChicago, she is an active member of both CHOMUN and MUNUC, and previously served as Assistant Chair for a bilingual crisis committee at ChoMUN.
Beyond the MUN world, Camila is involved with Women in Law+, UChicago UNICEF, and serves as an ICA writing tutor. When she is not in Harper, you can find her exploring new anime series, fueling her coffee habit, or walking by the lakefront with her friends.
Camila could not be more excited to be your Chair this upcoming year, and you can reach out to her at colivares1@uchicago.edu.
Ivan Cano
crisis director
Ivan Cano is a fourth-year from OKC (Go Thunder!!!) studying Biological Science and Environmental Science at the University of Chicago, while also navigating the joys and terrors of being pre-med. On campus, he works as an Event House Manager for the UChicago’s Music Department, helping run concerts, host receptions, and all the behind-the-scenes details that keep events running smoothly. He also mentors first-generation and low income students through the Maroon Mentors program, a role that reflects his love for building welcoming and supportive communities.
Ivan can usually be found trying new restaurants around Chicago, going on long walks through the city, planning his next trip, or convincing himself that he’ll be able to run a marathon someday. He also loves board games, discovering new music, or preparing for Avengers: Doomsday (so exciting!). He has three brothers, no sisters :((( unless you count the family dog :)!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email: icano@uchicago.edu.
Victor Hinojosa
crisis director
Victor Hinojosa is a second-year student at the University of Chicago studying Public Policy Studies and Economics. Hailing from Waukegan, Illinois, Victor is no stranger to the amazing people, cultures, and environmental beauties that make Illinois one of the most critical states within the union! On campus, he serves as the Secretary of Lawtines+, the UChicago Latino Undergraduate Association, Operations Director of the UChicago Law Society, the Undergraduate Law Association, and a member of finance, elections, and advocacy committees with the Undergraduate Student Government. Additionally, he is training to be a candidate for commissioning as an Officer within the United States Marine Corps.
Outside of the hustle and bustle of the UChicago grind, he is an avid reader of romance novels, a (decent) baker of countless different types of pastries, an explorer of our natural world (whenever bugspray and no-to-hot weather in involved), and spending well-deserved quality time with his close friends and family.
He could not be more excited to be serving as your Crisis Director this ChoMUN XXX, you can feel free to contact him with any questions, comment, or concerns at victorhinojosa@uchicago.edu
Secretariat oversight:
oliver heatly, under-secretary-general