The Snow Glows Red on the Mountain Tonight: Tsar Nicholas II's Council, 1905
Background Guide coming soon!
Set in the winter of 1905, this committee brings delegates inside the marble halls of Tsar Nicholas II’s newly renovated Winter Palace as unrest spreads across Imperial Russia. Strikes, protests, and peasant uprisings are shaking the streets, while whispers drift through the corridors about whether the Romanov dynasty can hold its grip on a changing empire. Beneath the chandeliers and frozen courtyards, old folklore clings stubbornly to the palace foundations and rumors have begun to spread that not every creak of the marble is caused by footsteps that belong there. Delegates will be asked to confront the realities of a nation on the edge; balancing reform, suppression, diplomacy, and survival as the council tries to hold the Empire together behind gates that, once sealed, will not open easily. But as unnatural events unfold inside these walls, delegates may quickly find that this council is not the straightforward crisis they expected. We hope to see delegates test each other’s trust, chase rumors, and lean fully into secrets that twist alliances in ways they do not see coming. This committee will begin in behind the locked doors of the New Winter Palace inaugurated by the Tsar in 1905. Delegates will be confined to the halls of the palace at all times, which means that outside contact will be virtually restricted and delegates will have to work their arcs within the limitations of a confined space. This is an advanced, fast-paced nontraditional crisis committee that will start as a simple Council discussing matters of the state and progress to [REDACTED]. We urge that delegates have experience competing in crisis-style committees on the collegiate circuit before joining this committee.
MILAD BROWN
ChairYour Imperial Excellencies, fellow distinguished courtiers! I'm Milad Brown, your Chair for the Tsar Nicholas II Council at UCBMUN XXIX. As a senior at UC Berkeley majoring in Computer Science, I've traded my love for algorithms (the logical kind) for a passion for Imperial Russian grandeur. San Mateo, CA, my hometown, can get kind of boring, so I've always had a knack for the extraordinary – like that time I attempted to brew a proper grog. Spoiler alert: I'm still walking on steady land... or am I? When I'm not busy being a code monkey or practicing my aristocratic bow, you can find me playing Crusader Kings III. Yes, I was – and proudly still am – a strategy game enthusiast who dreams of managing vast empires. What excites me most about this committee? The absolutely magnificent court intrigue we nobles will engage in, of course! Get ready for a grand affair filled with unexpected political maneuvering, imperial decrees, and perhaps a monocle or two falling into our borscht. So grab your favorite caviar and finest vodka, and let's make this the most memorable (or should I say, 'imperial') UCBMUN yet!
Best,MILAD BROWN
Chair, The Snow Glows Red on the Mountain Tonight: Tsar Nicholas II's Council, 1905
RISHIT PRADHAN
Crisis DirectorWelcome to the palace,
My name is Rishit Pradhan and I am a Junior now (unc) studying Chemical Biology and concentrating in Computational Chemistry. I am from the incredible town of Bakersfield in the beautiful central valley of California. When I am not buried in Chem homework or doing work for this committee, I love spending my time working with nonprofits such as Project RISHI and learning medicine through shadowing in clinics and surgical centers. Outside of that, I am probably playing tennis or watching whatever sport is on (I have been attached to Wimbledon lately).
I thought of this committee because I remembered my ancient AP World DBQ (Imperial Russia) and was excited by the opportunities. I am confident that this committee will be very unnatural and unique, and everyone will walk out of here having explored crisis in a way that has never been seen before. I wanted something that feels just a little off-balance, where alliances twist faster than the snow falls and everyone second-guesses who they trust. Whether you love solving puzzles, weaving rumors, or just throwing yourself into chaos for the fun of it, I hope you find something here that surprises you. I cannot wait to see the stories you all create when the gates close and the snow turns red.
Best,RISHIT PRADHAN
Crisis Director, The Snow Glows Red on the Mountain Tonight: Tsar Nicholas II's Council, 1905