MUNITY-East

By Susanna Chen, International Bilingual School at Hsinchu & Ho June Chun, International School of Ho Chi Minh City 

After a long night of drinking can after can of Red Bull, forcing weary eyes to open with wooden toothpicks, and slurping noodles from a Styrofoam bowl, it is finally time to shine. The podium is now open. You waltz your way up and present your polished resolution to the sea of brilliant faces seated before you.

For most main-submitters, the toughest thing to do at MUN is to write a well thought-out speech with new peers from a variety of backgrounds. One of the main-submitters of GA5, Jook Tan (Hwa Chong Institution), the delegate of Saudi Arabia, commented, “I think the hardest thing to do is to coordinate everyone during discussion and compile all problems into a consolidated one. It is difficult to account for everyone’s opinions as well.” Similarly, a main-submitter of GA6, Fergus Tollerves (Taipei European School), the delegate of Italy, mentioned that “water-proofing the resolution against future arguments” is also considered extremely tough.

A few interviewees also shared a similar tip for future main-submitters. The GA5 delegates of USA and Portugal, Kylie Tora Basuki Liu (Hwa Chong Institution) and Yu Jin Oh (Daewon Foreign Language School), fervently expressed that being “practical, realistic, and concise” is essential when writing resolutions.

The delegate of Italy, Fevgas Tollerveg (European School), one of the most successful main submitters of General Assembly 5 notes, “Our resolution is about enabling international cooperation against the world drug problem. Lobbying, for me, is always the hardest part, and putting the resolution together took a lot of work. However, with the delegate of Indonesia as my main co-submitter, we managed to coordinate an effective defense when the debate came around. In the end, it passed 70 for, 15 against.”

Not all the resolutions pass. However, every single one of them is meaningful as they only exist after days of hard work by numerous delegates.  So be proud of your resolution and pat yourself on the back for attempting to make a change at THIMUN Singapore 2011.

by Jim Hsiao, International Bilingual School at Hsinchu

Susanna Chen (International Bilingual School at Hsinchu) of MUNITY-EAST gaped openly at the chairs. Stunned by their knowledge, wisdom, and sophisticated manners, she was “unable to comprehend how someone can know so much.” There is probably no single answer that can resolve this dilemma, but one possible solution may be the so-called Fountain of Knowledge—reading. Here we have compiled a list of books selected by officers for all the Susannas out there seeking to be as smart and sophisticated as the student officers.

Look Woon Wei (Hwa Chong Institution), Deputy Chair of GA5:

Hailing from the vast expanses of Hwa Chong Institution, Look Woon Wei is no stranger to novels. Currently he is engaged with two novels, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand and The Hound of Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Although Atlas Shrugged is “so long-winded it’s crazy,” he seems very satisfied with the The Hound of Baskervilles, because “come on, it’s Sherlock Holmes!” The first novel has been particularly enlightening to him. Wei says that the novel has taught him to “write concisely,” in bolded, italicized, and underlined words. He encourages everyone to read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, but warns readers away from Atlas Shrugged unless they can withstand long winded descriptions.

Aman Puri (Dubai International Academy), Chair of GA6:

As overlord of a General Assembly, Aman Puri represents a position of prominence and eminence. His success is not without reason. As an avid reader, Puri has recently read The Economist magazine and Master Harold and the Boys, a play by Athol Fugard. He says that Fugard’s novel was very didactic, and has “shed light on the influence of the South African apartheid on its people.” Puri highly recommends both works, especially Master Harold and the Boys, which he characterizes as “a brilliant play.”

Rhiannon Wiley (Overseas Family School), Deputy Chair of GA6:

Riannon Wiley, Puri’s partner in GA6, also exhibits an aptitude for reading. Her recent reads include Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Wiley enjoyed reading the novel, because “it’s very clever and the characters seem very real despite being sci-fi.” Entertainment is not the only attractive part of Ender’s Game. According to Wiley, the discussion of strategy and leadership has helped her “maintain control as a chair.” For those aspiring to develop their charisma and leadership, this would be a very good place to start.

Lukas Schmelter (International Ho Chi Minh School), Deputy President of Security Council:

As Deputy President, Lukas Schmelter’s knowledge is not limited to the field of Model United Nations. Recently, Schmelter has been reading The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho. The novel, in addition to being a entertaining read, has also been “very inspiring as well.” The book has “a strong focus on the notion of destiny and how one defines personal happiness,” and thus Schmelter definitely recommends Alchemist to anyone looking to have their thoughts inspired by some provocative philosophy.

Tsai Wei Chen (International Bilingual School at Hsinchu), MUNITY-EAST Assistant Editor:

Editors must have extensive knowledge of writing, and Tsai Wei Chen, more colloquially known as May-May, is no exception. Having read Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard for a Literature course, she believes that the novel was a very “thought provoking and sometimes disturbing read.” The descriptions of nature included in Dillard’s novel were “long-winded and boring at times, but intensely interesting at others,” causing her to sway between periods of “irresistible sleepiness and horrified awareness.” Chen states that many of the concepts and ideas discussed held much merit, and recommends the novel to “all nature lovers and insect fanatics.”

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 3^rd 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.