Overview
This committee will function as a traditional crisis committee, with an emphasis on teaching foundational MUN crisis skills. The committee will function on a two-pad note system, where delegates will be given two legal notepads to write their crisis notes on, and the backroom takes one pad per cycle. Each of the two pads should be filled with notes addressed to one external contact, such as a mother, spouse, or powerful relative. The note cycle duration will vary depending on staffing and the speed of committee debate. On average, it will take 30 minutes to process one pad and collect the second. Crisis updates will take place interspersed with committee, likely coinciding with the note-collections. Unlike traditional crisis committees, the Lego BOD will have one specific special procedure where delegates may utilize lego blocks to further their arcs through directives and note cycles.
Topic: Lego Board of Directors, 2003 Bankruptcy Crisis
The beloved corporation of the Lego brick is stalling at the moment. The Danish company seemingly is struggling to grow its sales and innovate on new products. There has been recent success by using the iconic intellectual property of the Star Wars universe, and there have been recent proposals by creatives to expand into other parts of the media industry. Talks of TV shows and movies and even video games. Lego sure has the bold creatives to pull off such a change. With all this creativity still comes the business end of the company, this is a failed company at the moment and needs to turn a profit. Lego has such multinational breadth and is so beloved worldwide, so then begs the question how can Lego be at the forefront of multinational love while also innovating creatively.
The Dais
Nicky Reich - Chair
Nicky Reich is a freshman at Boston University double majoring in Political Science and Business Management & Administration, with a minor in Modern Greek Language and Culture. Hailing from Nyack, New York, Nicky is a seasoned veteran of the circuit, entering his fifth year of Model UN and his third time serving as a committee Chair. He is a "Cut Team" delegate on BU’s competitive travel team and is thrilled to continue his MUN streak at BosMUN XXV.
On campus, Nicky maintains an incredibly active profile. He serves as an Executive Director on the BU International Affairs Society’s Event Planning Board and is a member of both the Student Government and the Pre-Law Society. Additionally, he is a published columnist, writing "The Dossier" for The Sixteenth magazine. Despite his busy schedule, his primary passion remains Model UN and the connections built through the activity.
Nicky values the social and collaborative aspects of the conference and is lucky to have already formed a strong community at BU. He encourages delegates to come prepared for surprises and to reach out with any questions regarding the committee or life at Boston University. He is eager to witness the creativity and strategic thinking delegates will bring to the high-pressure world of the Lego BOD.
Contact: nreich29@bu.edu
Bree Maschke - Vice Chair
Bree Maschke is a sophomore at Boston University double majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Bree has been an enthusiastic member of the Model UN community since her freshman year of high school, and BosMUN XXV marks her fifth year in the activity and her second year serving as a committee chair. At BU, she balances her interest in diplomacy with a heavy focus on the sciences, participating in the Mind and Brain Society and assisting within the biology department.
Outside of the classroom, Bree is a true explorer who loves discovering new neighborhoods across Boston and Massachusetts. She is a frequent attendee of sporting events and an avid shopper—though she admits she often sticks to the "window shopping" variety. Whether she is hanging out with friends or heading to committee, she almost always has a matcha or coffee in hand. Bree is incredibly excited to meet all the delegates this February and encourages anyone with questions to reach out to her via email.
Contact: bree@bu.edu
Kaitlynn Cherry - Crisis Director
Kaitlynn Cherry is a junior at Boston University studying International Relations with a minor in Chinese. A seasoned veteran of the Model UN circuit, Kaitlynn competed at BosMUN during her own high school career and has since become a central leader within the Boston University International Affairs Association (BUIAA). She currently serves as the Vice President of BUIAA and previously held high-level leadership roles as the Under-Secretary-General of Crisis Committees for BosMUN XXIV and the Director of Training for BU’s competitive travel team.
Kaitlynn’s academic and professional interests extend into the cutting-edge intersection of policy and technology. On campus, she serves as the Director of Policy for BU’s AI Safety and Alignment organization and is a fellow at Cortico AI. She also supports her peers as a writing consultant for the BU Writing Center.
In her downtime, Kaitlynn is a fan of the arts and gaming; she enjoys watching movies, solving crosswords, and playing video games. She is also a passionate Lego builder—a hobby that mirrors her excitement for seeing what intricate narratives and structures delegates will "build" throughout the committee weekend. She is looking forward to bringing her extensive crisis experience to the Lego BOD and seeing delegates push the boundaries of creative problem-solving.
Contact: kcherry@bu.edu
Martina Bertolino - Assistant Crisis Director
Martina Bertolino (she/her) is a first-year student at Boston University double majoring in Biology and Economics. Originally from Italy, Martina moved to Boston during middle school and has called the city home ever since. While this is her first year participating in Model UN, she is eager to dive into the world of crisis and help delegates navigate the high-stakes corporate environment of the LEGO Board. She looks forward to learning alongside the delegates and assisting them in the development of both their individual character arcs and the committee’s broader narrative.
On campus, Martina stays active as a member of the BU Italian Student Association and by taking Taekwondo classes. She also works as a lifeguard for the university. In her free time, she is an avid reader and artist who enjoys sketching and exploring the city to find new cafes and restaurants to try with her friends. Because LEGO is such a universal childhood staple, Martina is particularly excited to see how the committee handles the real-world historical challenges the company faced. She encourages delegates to reach out with any questions or concerns as they prepare for a weekend of creative problem-solving and collaboration.
Contact: martinab@bu.edu