JCC Space Race: Soviets, 1958
APPROXIMATE COMMITTEE SIZE: 15-20 DELEGATES (SINGLe-Delegation)
NOTE: This committee will run as a Joint Crisis Committee (JCC) with the NASA committee. Both the NASA and Soviet committees will address the same topics from their respective committee points of view. More explanation of Joint Crisis Committee procedure will be provided in the Background Guide.
On October 4, 1957, amid the height of Cold War tensions over the nuclear threat, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, igniting concerns in the U.S. about Russian technological and surveillance advances. For many Americans, space was seen as the next frontier, and Sputnik's success fueled fears of Soviet superiority. This spurred immediate support for the establishment of NASA in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Now, both nations have increased their funding in engineering and space exploration in an attempt to demonstrate superior military and technological capabilities. In addition to the question of which country will prove its dominance over the cosmos, issues such as the consequences of rapid, uncontrolled development, the dangers of space surveillance and weaponization, and support of STEM education should be at the forefront of delegates’ minds.
COMMITTE DETAILS
This committee will consist of Soviet scientists, government officials, and military leaders. Delegates will strategize ways to surpass the U.S. in the space race, deciding on new space initiatives for Soviet investment. They will also discuss how to use media to enhance the Soviet Union’s image, portraying their advancements as superior and boosting national prestige.
soviet chair: Mahika Sharma
Grand CM: Michelle Giovinazzo
soviet cM: Reesa Bhowmik
About the Chair
Mahika Sharma is a member of the Class of 2027 in the School of Foreign Service, majoring in International Politics with a minor in Journalism. She hails from Fairfax, Virginia, and had the pleasure of competing in and staffing Model UN conferences for six years before finding a home on the Hilltop. Aside from realizing she can’t ever escape the world of pre-ambs and points of inquiry—staffing NCSC twice, co-leading the WoMUN affinity group, and serving as the Under-Secretary-General of Non-Trads for NAIMUN LXII—Mahika writes for The Georgetown Voice, researches for The Free Speech Project, and spends a couple weekends roughin’ it in the outdoors with Georgetown ESCAPE. When her calendar isn’t looking like a total logistical nightmare, you can probably find her reading contemporary novels, watching trash reality TV, and/or yapping with friends on the lawn. She can’t wait to meet you all at this iteration of DistrictMUN!
About the GRand Crisis Manager
Michelle Giovinazzo is a member of Georgetown College class of 2027, studying the interdisciplinary major of Computer Science, Ethics, and Society and minoring in Spanish and Economics. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where her high school life was defined by public speaking – NSDA speech and debate, mock trial, model UN, and a sketch comedy club called Goats of Denmark. At Georgetown, she has loved competing on the collegiate circuit with GUMUN (especially causing chaos in fictional crisis committees). She has served as the USG of JCCs for NCSC LII and a side CM for the 5-way JCC at NAIMUN LXII. Her hobbies include coding / playing video games, go-karting, and being addicted to boba tea. Michelle is excited to finally be a grand CM for this committee!
About the Crisis Manager
Reesa Bhowmik is a member of the Walsh School of Foreign Service’s class of 2026, majoring in International Economics with double minors in Justice & Peace Studies and Linguistics. Born and raised in a Star Trek household, Reesa has always been passionate about space exploration and its history. At Georgetown, Reesa competes on the collegiate MUN circuit with team GUMUN and staffed DistrictMUN as a Chair last year. Besides Model UN, Reesa is on the board of Delta Phi Epsilon, Georgetown’s Professional Foreign Service Sorority, and dances in Rangila, a South Asian dance show. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, long walks on Key Bridge, and leading ESCAPE retreats with Mahika! Reesa is honored to be a Crisis Manager at DistrictMUN and can’t wait to meet everyone!