By Regan Plekenpol, Shanghai American School Pudong
Overview and Diagnosis:
Post-MUN Syndrome is a serious condition in which the affected delegate suffers from mild to intense longing for debate. Certain victims may suffer from outbursts of “I object” or mindlessly refer to his or herself in the 3rd person as “the Delegate of Switzerland”. It is not uncommon to use delegate jargon in everyday vernacular and one can expect bizarre looks from peers for up to a month after the conference. In more serious cases, the patient will subconsciously memorize irrelevant statistics and use them in daily conversation. This can lead to potential social outcast-ism. If gone untreated, this condition can develop into Stage 4 symptoms. In this stage of the disorder, the patient will refuse to remove suit and tie and never speak to anyone unless in note form. A similar condition, Admin Staff Withdrawal Syndrome (ASW), has also been observed: symptoms include hallucinations of brown blazers and name badges.
This is to be expected.
Symptoms and Prognosis:
This condition can be detrimental to the sanity of those affected. They will make amendments to homework assignments. They will add and remove clauses from the syllabus. They will also ask the teacher for a point of personal privilege when they want them to speak louder or repeat a question. The teacher must be reminded that, though this delegate suffers from a very serious MUN complex, he or she cannot allow them any special treatment. The delegates should only experience the fame of standing behind a podium and being interviewed by the press during the conference. For their own good, they must be forced to adjust to their new reality.
Treatment:
As a form of treatment, this delegate must be constantly reminded that MUN is over. No longer do they need to sway the other delegates with clever analogies, facts and figures. They can move on. Come 7 AM, they can wake up in the morning, get their bowl, get their cereal, and make their way to the bus stop to face the perplexity of seating arrangements. They can put back on their jeans and finish that AP chemistry lab.
Sadly, THIMUN-Singapore is over. With resolutions passed and alliances made, delegates have to pack up and return home. But they mustn’t fear, because the friendships and memories made this week will last forever. They’ll just have to wait for next year to be re-diagnosed with Post MUN Syndrome.
