munity-east issue 2

Munity EastMunity EastMunity East Volume 7, Issue 2November 17, 2011

Taking the First Step in THIMUN SingaporeBy Christine Choi, Korea International School

bright, sun-drenched day. Buildings bustling with stu-dents from all over the world. An atmosphere mixed with excitement and anxiety. This is the very scene wit-

nessed upon arriving at the Hwa Chong Institution. Half past eight in the morning, the main entrance of the school was already packed with students, teachers, advisors, and administration staff. Due to the warm Singapore weather, most of the girls were dressed up in skirts or dresses. Guys wear-ing their layers of dark suits, on the other hand, seemed to be sweating, even with their sleeves pulled up. Waiting to be appointed to their rooms, students from the same schools circled around and received their name tags. A couple of participants recognized familiar faces from past con-ferences, and they greeted each other with welcoming smiles. Some students had dark circles under their eyes from preparing their clauses and resolutions the night before, and some were still exhausted from the plane ride. Danny Kim, an ECOSOC delegate representing Nicaragua, commented in an exhausted voice, “I’m kind of worn out right now because I slept late yes-terday.” Others seemed to be more relaxed, chatting away with their friends and laughing out loud. With some time left, numer-ous people were flicking through the pages of the Munity-East paper. Confidence comes naturally with experience. Unlike those attending the conference for the first time, the MUN vet-erans did not show any signs of uneasiness. “I’m actually more thrilled than worried, since this isn’t my first time at a confer-ence. I’m looking forward to debating and meeting new people for the next few days,” said Eun Hwa Lee, a delegate from GA6 representing Poland.

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M E T VMETV is the daily news broadcast for THIMUN Singapore. Munity East may bring the words on paper, but we bring the scene to you. Stories covered include what goes on in the Hwa Chong Institution to the delegates’ plans in their free time. Please check out our videos every day. You may even be in it!

http://www.munity-east.com/

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MUN VS. REAL UN

YOUTH ASSEMBLY

COMMITTEE: THE ICJ

Article Continues on 5

ADMINISTRATION HEADS

Photo cred: Mars Huangof Intl. Bilingual School at Hsinchu

Munity East Volume 7, Issue 2.NOVEMBER 17, 2011

Singapore: What not to do

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& “unSpoken” ruleSraciSt JokeS

going out paSt ten p.M. Rush hour is a time of honking cars, blar-ing lights, nerve-wrecking traffic jams, frustrating bursts of anger, and exhausted workers heading home. Knowing this, deciding to take a taxi at around 10 P.M. is probably not a good idea. There is a horde of peo-ple rushing in all different directions, each focused on reaching that particular empty taxi or standing in that particular empty space next to that relatively sweat-free safety bar of the MRT. Those trying to find their way home will undoubtedly reach insurmountable barriers and obstacles, which means those short few hours around 10 P.M. are best spent not trekking about in the uncharted domains of rush hour.

talking behind people’S backS on the MrtBy Melody Lai, International Bilingual School at Hsinchu Science Park

drug trafficking Everyone remembers their first trip to Singapore, the first breath of fresh, warm air after long hours in a stifled, en-closed compartment, the floor to ceiling windows spanning across airport walls, the fake greenery adorning the walkways, and an ominous sign stating that drug trafficking is a capital offense and punishable by death. That last observation is a law reinforced numerous times to visitors coming to this tiny country indistinguishable on a world map. Hammered and ce-mented into the deepest recesses of the mind, the law against drug trafficking is definitely one that people should heed.

no littering

That brief period of time spent on an MRT ride is nor-mally a period of lax inactivity where one observes the anony-mous faces of the opposite aisle and mulls over their interesting attributes.. If one is in the company of friends, these observa-tions are occasionally verbalized in a different language, se-cret code, or hushed tones. Unfortunately, these whispered thoughts are not as private as one would assume, as Singapore’s ethnically diverse population complements a diverse linguistic atmosphere. As a result, both negative and positive comments will most likely be overheard and understood by at least one person in that crowded throng of sharp-edged bags, sweaty bodies, and warm hands grasping slightly greasy safety bars.

Admit it or not, everyone has their own pre-set racial prejudices of the people around them. Often, this discrimination is based upon unfounded assump-tions made without prior exposure to a certain minor-ity race. While other countries have a dominant race, however, Singapore is home to Chinese, Malay, Indian, Europeans, and numerous others pervading every cor-ner of this 694-kilometer country. Subsequently, racial discrimination will not be taken lightly.

One of the frequently-voiced compliments on Singapore is the squeaky clean streets with no trace of soiled food wrappers, used tissues, greying lumps of gum, or cigarette butts with a trail of smoke still me-andering through the air. However, this seemingly mi-raculous circumstance is not without effort. Singapore law states that first time offenders of the littering law face a fine of $1000. Repetitive offenders face a fine of $2000 and a public service Competitive Work Order where offenders help to clean up scraps of bacteria-infested trash.

Art by JooYeon LimCSIA


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& “unSpoken” ruleS

True to its name, Model United Nations is complementary to the official United Nations. The first thing an unas-suming observer notices about MUN is the dress code. Students who replace jeans and t-shirts with formal suits and blouses attract pointed stares ranging from bewilderment to awe that originate from intimidated and unknowing bystanders. The dress code enforced by MUN is the most obvious aspect of the conference identical to that of the UN. With the exception of a few colorful individuals such as Gaddafi, most attendees of UN dress much like a respectable MUN delegate should. The similarities do not stop here. The purpose of any MUN conference is to produce resolutions of issues selected by the officers and directors. Frustrated delegates often question the validity of the issues, as they pound on their keyboards in distress. These issues are not chosen for the ability to demoralize and massacre brain cells in a grim harvest of cellular death, but for their utmost importance and presence in real UN conferences. In the debating process, MUN employs procedures that are drawn directly from the UN. MUN participants take the floor, make speeches, and propose points of informa-tion, which is exactly what official UN representatives do at conferences. Delegates from both conferences also submit resolutions and amendments through similar processes. Some conferences, like the Global Model United Nations, go as far as inviting UN of-ficials to their preparatory meetings to further emulate the UN. Despite the overwhelming similarities, there are still differences that separate the two organizations. The participants of the conferences dictate many of the events that happen. UN delegates are trained professionals, who are experienced veterans at navigating the intricate field of international politics. Their decisions have a cos-mopolitan effect, thus the conferences are far more serious. MUN delegates, on the other hand, are students. The sight of sleeping delegates and questionable analogies are exclusive to MUN, as no respectable UN representative would risk ruining the reputation of his or her delegation. MUN also has preset assumptions that normally limit the actions of the Unit-ed Nations. For example, monetary funding is an issue that is not discussed in MUN, while it is an important factor that must be addressed in sessions of United Nations. An-other contrast is the influence and reach of the organizations. “MUN is on a much smaller scale and effect, it is not as far reaching as the UN,” proclaims Xavies Neo, an administrator of General Assembly 5. While the United Nations has the power to affect the seven billion inhabitants of our planet, MUN conferences are limited to spreading awareness among the student participants of the conference. MUN is also limited in its power to implement and propagate the resolutions. Aman Puri, the chair of GA 6, believes that the main difference between the two organizations is “the fact that the resolutions don’t necessarily come into effect.” This, however, does not stop the delegates from trying their best to produce resolutions worthy of the UN itself. Puri maintains that “the essential drive behind UN and MUN is the same.” Whether it be Model United Nations of United Nations, delegates are united under the banner of peace and diplomacy, striving to create a brighter future.

T h e . M i m i c r y B e h i n d . M U N

By Jim Hsiao, International Bilingual School at Hsinchu Science Park

Art by Christine LinIntl. School of Taichung

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

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Munity East Volume 7, Issue 2.

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an interview with Eddie Liang

administrator head

Article by Emily Tang, International Bilingual School at Hsinchu

articipants of Model United Nations con-ferences all realize how much work is put into making everything happen, but more

often than not, people overlook a major component that the conference cannot function without - the administrators. They are the coordinators who or-ganize the event, the “little elves” in Santa’s work-shop. Without their contribution, there would be no conference. Therefore, it is obvious that the head of these silent helpers takes on an important role. As head of the administration staff, Eddie Liang from Hwa Chong Institution handles a wide range of re-sponsibilities from facilitating all movements of the conference to overseeing the branches of adminis-trators for each meeting.

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“I was chosen to take upon the role of adminis-tration head,” Liang declared. Unlike most other people, he did not speak of all his hard work and accumulating an acute interest for the role. Liang noted that he had a satisfactory amount of experience to help him do his job well, since he has attended three THIMUN conferences and numerous other local MUN conferences. An administrator head does not simply manage all of the complications in the conferences, as one may expect from the title. Instead, the post includes the mon-itoring of all events of the conference, making sure each administrator is doing a corresponding job, address-ing concerns of participants, and satisfying the needs of every person in the conference. “The head has to coor-dinate all the movements around the whole conference” explains Benny Chee, an administrator from Hwa Chung Institution. The head administrator acts as an axis for other administration positions, a trunk for the many branches, so that every “branch” works successfully. “A good head should be talkative and open, willing to help people out,” says Liang, who feels he meets these requirements.

Because an administrator covers so many duties, the bur-den is extremely heavy but also quite interesting. “The best part of this job is that I get to walk around a lot,” says Liang, noting that this freedom allows him to see and ex-perience more than most delegates or chairs, who mostly stay in their respective meeting rooms. “The problem with this job is, actually, also that I have to walk around a lot,” notes Liang. “It gets really tiring after a day.” Since most administrators must stand and move throughout the day, the job is also more physically exhausting than others. With a spark of confidence and an air of cheer-fulness, Liang takes on his various jobs in this year’s con-ference seriously, intent on helping participants to the best of his ability.

“BECAUSE AN ADMINISTRA-TOR COVERS SO MANY DUTIES, THE BURDEN IS

EXTREMELY HEAVY BUT ALSO QUITE INTERESTING. ”

“Les Enfoires”


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Songs of HumanityArt by Christine Lin, Ameriacn School of Taichung

By. Jessica Chang, Korea International School

Songs and arts inspire people. But MUN-ers think differently, live differently, and strive differently. Therefore, the THIMUN-Singapore Press team set out to get the gist of delegates’ and chairs’ opinions on songs about hu-manity and how they actually relate to MUN.

“We Are The World” by Michael Jackson“The song inspires me to seriously consider the problems of the world today,” said Sheng Hua Lin (Tianjin International School), the delegate of Fiji from GA2. Listening to these songs, MUN-ers are bound to think about humanities as they are en-grossed in subjects like these. The chorus, “We are the world. We are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving,” increases awareness for people globally that they are not alone in poverty and that there are brothers and sisters out there to help them recover. By unifying multiple rac-es into one, the song alleviates social discrimination and negligence.

“Black or White” by Michael JacksonAman Puri, the Chair of GA6 from Dubai Inter-national Academy, enjoys listening to “Black or White” because it insinuates that race does not matter when it comes to making friends. The song’s chorus notes, “It don’t matter if you’re black or white...I had to tell them I ain’t second to none.” Michael Jackson allows global citizens to recognize that race does not matter when it comes to equality. Just as correlation does not mean causation, unskilled people in poor coun-tries are not uneducated because they are minori-ties. Therefore, we must pull minorities back up on their feet and realize that we are all equal.

“Les Enfoires”Les Enfoires is the name given to the singers and performers in the yearly charity concert for a French charitable organi-zation. Sophie Barbier, the delegate of UNCDF, could not think of any specific songs that were related to humanity, but she remembered this humanitarian group. People who go to the concerts automatically learn the need of other countries. Therefore, this group not only helps needy people, but also increases awareness of poverty for people around the world.

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My mother is from Malaysia, a country that has three main cultures, Indian, Chinese and Malay. When the British colonized Malaysia, they brought the Chinese to work in the tin mines and the Indians to work on the palm oil plantations. My mother’s ancestry is Punjabi (North Indian), but she has lived in Malaysia her entire life. My father, on the other hand, is from the Netherlands. He was born in Aruba, a Dutch colony until it gained independence in 1986 and became its own coun-try. He holds a Dutch passport and considers himself Dutch Antillean. In Aruba the official language is Dutch, they hold

allegiance to the Dutch queen, and many of them move to the Netherlands. My father moved to Holland at 17 for univer-

sity and his family followed later to live there permanently.

When people ask me where I’m from, I don’t know how to answer.

I feel more Malaysian than anything else. I’ve lived in Malaysia my entire life and it is

my home. I barely feel Dutch. Holland is just a place I go during the summer

to visit my family, which is a bit of a culture shock. After more than three weeks, I find myself missing the heat, the noodles and rice, the squatting toi-lets, the lack of public trans-portation, the use of spoons, and the shopping centers that make up Malaysia.

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

When people ask me where I’m from, I don’t know how to answer...

BUILDING BRIDGESArticle by Sekheena Deslorieux of Mon’t Kiara International School

FROM MALAYSIA TO THE NETHERLANDS

Art by Yong Jin Kim of Concordia International School of Shanghai

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When I say I’m Malaysian, I get funny looks. I don’t look Malaysian. When the Malaysians around me speak Malay and talk about going to their Hari Raya plans, I cannot relate. Unlike the majority of the Malaysian population, I’m not Muslim. When I say I’m Dutch, I feel like I’m lying. I’m nothing like other Dutch people! I don’t celebrate Dutch culture; my fa-ther’s culture is Aruban! I don’t eat Dutch food. I don’t speak Dutch. I don’t seem Dutch.


My first language is English. I don’t speak Punjabi or Papiamento (the language of the Dutch Antilles), and I barely speak Malay. In Weert, the small town in the south of the Netherlands where my family lives, peo-ple have to strain themselves to speak English to me. Though some people speak a very broken form of Eng-lish, many don’t.



It’s a question you get asked a lot in an interna-tional school. Most of us are used to it by now. A lot of times people think I’m African-American or South Af-rican because of my skin color. I don’t blame them be-cause I don’t look Malaysian and I barely look Dutch. Antillean people in Holland are a minority and known for being rowdy and breaking the law, a reputation that is rooted in racist ideas that have stuck through the ages. Punjabis are a minority in Malaysia. Being from two different counties is difficult to explain. Being from two minorities of two countries is even harder to explain. Imagine a Mexican American and an Ar-menian Russian having a child and that child trying to explain where he is from. That’s the kind of thing I have to go through on a daily basis.


It’s not like most people who can easily an-swer with “I’m Korean!” or “I’m British!” Those of you who are multi-cultural will understand how it feels. At times when I do go out of my way to ex-plain to people where I’m from, I get answers like, “So you’re Malaysian... but you aren’t Malaysian?” or “You’re not Dutch!” or “I don’t understand...” Once I even got a tenacious “So you’re a tourist in your own country.” I’m very sad to say that I am quite a tourist, in every country that I go to. When people ask me where I’m from, I usually say I’m half-Malaysian and half-Dutch. It’s just easier that way.

Being from two different counties is difficult to explain. Being from two mi-norities of two coun-tries is even harder to explain.

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NOVEMBER 17, 2011

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Photographs by Mars Huang (IBSH)


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A CONTROVERSY FROM THE STARTTHE PURPOSE OFMODELUNITEDNATIONSt eight A.M. on November 16th, highly pas-sionate students attending the 2012 THI-MUN Singapore conference filled the Hwa

Chong Institution with a vibe of passion and zeal. However, before the participants dive themselves into the feverishly hot atmosphere, they must first under-stand the purpose of MUN. Why do MUN debates and rebuttals allure participants? What is so fascinating about MUN that it attracts participants to the annual conference after long hours of flights?

According to Swathi Bhat (Anderson Jun-ior College Singapore), delegate of Cameroon in the General Assembly 1, MUN provides a “nice forum for youth, who usually [have] no seat in politics to discuss global problems and worldly issues.” For youth, who are usually excluded from the political world, MUN is a wonderful opportunity in which they can voice their thoughts. Thoughts expressed by the young gen-eration may be idealistic; however, the true purpose of MUN lies in assisting the fresh and innovative words of youth to be voiced to the world. Julia Choi (Bei-jing International School), the delegate of Guatemala in General Assembly 3, further strengthens the idea by commenting that MUN gives students a “chance to talk with people they normally cannot meet, and it also allows participants to explore future careers and discover who they really are.”

On the other hand, some participants find that the useful skills and knowledge acquired from MUN can be applied to our daily lives. William Chen (Shang-hai American School), the delegate of Lebanon in the

Security Council, said, “Issues discussed in MUN are not just political or conceptual, but are actually very practi-cal in that, for example, learning from discussions on hu-manitarian affairs can also be applied to our daily service club activities.” Those participants believe the purpose of MUN is not to simply earn certificate of participation, but to learn and apply great ideas shared during confer-ence to daily lives.

However, despite the great purposes which al-lured participants to join MUN, Tiffany Wang, deputy president of ECOSOC, worries that sometimes debates and rebuttals become so aggressive that the “purpose of MUN turns into bashing others and picking on every single punctuation mistakes, rather than looking at the whole meanings behind resolutions.” Sometimes, par-ticipants are tempted to debase others’ opinions, rather than to cooperate and come up with better terms and ideas. Yet, there is no winning or losing in MUN. It has its purpose in connecting youth from all over the world and providing them an opportunity to collaborate with each other.

Therefore, all delegates must not forget the rea-sons why they chose to participate in MUN. Raising ob-jections can result in fruitful debate in that it helps par-ticipants to think critically; however, denunciation only creates chasm among delegates. Therefore, before par-ticipants choose to criticize others, they must remember they joined MUN to accept diversity and spread their voices.

Art by Joo Yeon Limof CheongShim Intl. Academy

“...THERE IS NO WINNING OR LOSING IN MUN. IT HAS ITS PURPOSE IN CONNECT-

ING YOUTH FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND PROVID-ING THEM AN OPPORTUNI-TY TO COLLABORATE WITH

EACH OTHER. ”

AArticle by Ho Jai Yoon of Concordia Intl. School of Shanghai


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Nine years ago in Rome, October 10 was estab-lished by a coalition of organizations as the Interna-tional Day Against the Death Penalty. With a goal in mind, activists worldwide campaigned for the aboli-tion of capital punishment. Despite their ongoing de-termination, a tragedy recently occurred in Georgia, USA. At precisely 11:08 pm on September 21, 2011, Troy Davis, an African American, was executed with a lethal injection at the Georgia Diagnostic and Clas-sification Prison (GDCP) after being convicted of kill-ing Mark MacPhail, a police officer, in 1989. Davis was put to death despite the numerous pieces of evidence that suggested his innocence. Out of the nine princi-pal prosecution eyewitnesses, seven changed their trial testimony. Dorothy Ferrell, one of the eyewitnesses, af-ter feeling positive about her statement for nine years, signed an affidavit stating that she did not actually see Davis shooting the police officer. According to many experts, this case, as report-ed by The Washington Post “added fuel to an already-simmering debate over how much weight courts should give to eyewitnesses testimony” and whether capital punishment is appropriate. Retentionists, or people who advocate the retention of a practice, believe that capital punishment is a deterrent to crime. They backed up their theory by pointing out that people tend to re-sort to the threat of death when they are determined to get what they want. On the other hand, abolitionists, or people who favor the abolition of a practice, judge that the death penalty may, in fact, motivate people sentenced with life imprisonment to commit deadlier crimes. In response, retentionists argue that people will still commit crimes since they know that they have al-ready reached the maximum penalty. Both sides have their questionable aspects. Peter Lai (International Bilingual School at Hsinchu Science Park), the ambassador for Ireland in General Assembly 6, said, “If someone’s an excessively detrimental influence on society and the lives of other people, they do not deserve to live.” Although that may be true in some cases, one can not rule out the possibil-ity that capital punishment may accidentally be given to an innocent person and, by then, the results will be irrevocable.

Sally Shin (International Bilingual School Science Park), the delegate of Malawi in General Assembly 3, objected, “As with the meting out of all other types of justice, how do we decide what actions merit what con-sequences?” Lai answered her with a rhetorical question: “Most people would agree that Adolf Hitler should re-ceive a capital punishment if he were tried on a proper justice system for causing the deaths of so many people. At the same time, most people would agree that assisted suicide of a terminally ill, dying patient in chronic pain should not merit capital punishment. How about one murder with extenuating circumstances? What about two? Who gets to draw the line between who gets to live and die?” The ambiguity of the “line” was exacerbated by the execution of Troy Davis, and has received attention from various countries as a global issue. Whether the death penalty will become a punishment of the past still remains uncertain.

A CONTROVERSY FROM THE STARTBy Susanna Chen, International Bilingual School of Hsinchu

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NOVEMBER 17, 2011

ervous and worried yet—excited. As students from around the globe gathered for this year’s THIMUN-Singapore conference, a game of

tug-of-war played in their minds: a constant battle be-tween the conflicting feelings of anxiety and anticipa-tion. However, as the conference unfolded, this am-bivalence disappeared, making way for their first true impressions of a to-be-cherished THIMUN-Singapore conference. The maze of hallways was packed with puzzled delegates, all searching for their assigned committee rooms. Some of them admitted that a significant part of their initial impressions of THIMUN was based on the enormous size of its location. For delegates who were new to THIMUN this year, this aspect was especially striking. Ji Won Chae, the delegate of Burkina Faso in the Human Rights Committee, said that her major con-cern was “the notably huge size of the conference in terms of both the number of participants and the in-stitution itself.” For new delegates like Chae, the large number of participants is not just a number – to them it means reduced opportunities to speak at the podium, or the possibility of getting lost during the conference. Having observed the professional, yet competi-tive atmosphere that is present in every committee, some delegates expressed worries about the intense debates that were sure to follow in the next three days. Even though Rosemary Lee, the delegate of Iran in General Assembly 2, had been to THIMUN-Singapore

conference before, she was still “surprised by the level of preparation this year’s delegates have done prior to the conference and their enthusiasm - the delegates just could not wait for the actual debate sessions to start.” She continued, saying that this strong presence of for-midable delegates was still quite intimidating, especially during lobbying sessions where she has to interact with the other delegates of her committee. However, despite these prevalent feelings of confusion and concern, most delegates said that such a huge, professional conference ultimately gave them with a positive first impression and a pleasant feeling that the next few days would result in an enjoyable and meaningful MUN conference. Kevin Wang, the delegate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in General Assembly 2, was “excited that the conference would be a great learn-ing opportunity.” He further stated that he was sure that “the debate [would] be fun, exciting and fruitful.” The first day of a MUN conference can certainly be overwhelming. Not surprisingly, many delegates of this year’s THIMUN-Singapore conference were in-timidated by the professional nature of the conference veterans around them. Yet, it is evident that in the end the spirit of MUN won out, and delegates were left (for the most part) with nothing but excitement for the days ahead.

First day Impressions

NFirst day Impressions

By So Yeon Park, International School of Beijing

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Sick and tired of all the black, grey, and button-downs, the press team decided to scout out some fashion outliers. These delegates impressed us with a unique flair and an uncanny ability to dress with modesty and style. After interviewing the top four “Fashion Winners,” we have uncovered some secrets of their success.

Ties, Blazers, and Style, oh my.By Regan Plekenpol, Photographs by Judy Wan

These delegates know how to spice up their wardrobe

#1: Claudette Van Maarschalkerweerel, Delegate for China, GA6, from Overseas Family School in Singapore.Modesty, in Claudette’s opinion, is not difficult. “You don’t have to show everything to look cool,” she voiced as she posed in her simple navy dress and cheetah print flats. “You can be modest and stylish at the same time. I love what I’m wearing, and it’s so comfortable!” Claudette complet-ed her look by adding a matching bag and shoes to show her mixed, spontaneous personality.

#2: Justine Huang, Delegate for Lebanon, Security Council, from Shanghai American School Puxi. “MUN is about “60% com-fort, 40% style” to Justine, who caught our eye with a striking green top and a unique ‘car-rousel’ necklace, which exhib-ited her fun-loving personality. She believes that, though delegates have to look professional, stressful conferences make comfort another critical factor.

#3: Mikaela Zimmermann, Delegate for Lib-ya, GA6, from Saigon Southern International

School in Vietnam. Mikaela’s bright dress was certainly eye-catch-ing. Like Austin, she believes that comfort is crucial in long conferences. She noted that her

dress displayed her personality because, though it is not overly extravagant, it still shows her bright, confident temperament.


#4: Austin Gillette, Delegate for Afghanistan, GA2, from Inter-national School of Phnom Penh.

Austin had a laid-back disposi-tion—a simple black suit and striking tie. He noted that, because he “looks good most of the time anyway,” comfort was his main priority in the conference. To show his in-dividualism, he wears a per-sonal necklace, and un-tucks his shirt whenever he can.

So, delegates, you should use these examples to help you add some spice to your outfits! Remember that it’s not impossible to keep your style in check at THIMUN.

Of course, there were a few people who arrived late, and they began rushing around the campus as soon as they hopped off the buses. Amid the bustling, Luigi Marshall, a GA6 delegate representing Cameroon, took the time to note, “This is my first time attending THIMUN, so I’m quite anxious right now. I’m hoping that I make new friends today.” After responding, he quickly walked across the hallway to his designated room. Others were not late, but simply had trouble finding where to go. With the rooms jammed with participants, some students had to wait until they could be seated. “I like how Hwa Chong is so well-equipped with different facilities and how everyone here is really ambitious. Since there are so many people in each room, it is a bit frightening. However, I’m still glad to be here to learn about the different perspectives that students from different countries have,” commented Ang Wei Jia, a delegate representing Sierra Leone in GA2. She added, “I hope everything goes well today.” The hectic morning soon passed by, and students across the campus began to settle down. They entered their rooms, got in their seats, and the chairs initiated the conference by running some brief introductory presentations. All participants are now ready to take their next steps into this four-day journey.

Continued from Page 1

taking the firSt Step in thiMun Singapore

First day ImpressionsFirst day Impressions

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”“The phrases “This delegate urges other nations...” and “This clause is vague as it lacks detail...” are never left out during MUN conferences– THIMUN is no exception. These endlessly repeated quotes all sound vaguely profes-sional, but delegates should start getting creative if they want to break the monotonous atmosphere of the confer-ence room. Take a look at the quote “This delegate urges other nations,” frequently used at the start of a sentence care-fully constructed to oppose certain resolutions. However, instead of spending their time and energy merely urging other nations to oppose certain resolutions, delegates should take the time to prove their point so effectively that additional urging is rendered unnecessary. An awe-inspiring speech, supported by a foundation of irrefutable evidence, will go miles farther than empty urgings. A for-midable speaker will show the delegates what they clear-ly need to do (listen to the speaker, of course) instead of merely telling them to.The cliché phrases everyone hears are not only hypocriti-cal, but are also dull: the expression, “This clause is vague

as it lacks detail,” seems to be one of the foolproof ways to gain votes against any resolution and, consequently, is loved by every delegate who needs an easy attack to launch. As Hyung Seok Lee from ICJ noted, “Most of the delegates who use this phrase only have a general idea about the resolution. They are using the phrase because they cannot pin point the exact flaws due to their limited knowledge. They should have better reasons to oppose the resolution.” So where does this triteness come from? Most of these phrases that are considered clichés come from guides on MUN. Yes, those MUN guides are full of preambulatory clauses. Also, the majority of delegates start their MUN careers blindly following such advice. Soon enough, how-ever, they are limited by the vocabulary within it, making it a tradition to say certain words in certain situations. It is true that MUN conferences require formality. How-ever, occasional use of untypical words that are not heard every day might help to break the boredom. So be crea-tive and think outside the box to impress your esteemed delegates!

MUN Phrases

By Ho June Chun, International School of Ho Chi Minh

We’re Sick and Tired of Hearing

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

EDITORSKaren SimsElissa LeeAngie Jo

ASSISTANT EDITORSDiana LeeJessica ChangTsai-Wei ChenAshley Kim

REPORTERS

LAYOUT EDITOR

So Yeon ParkHo Jai YoonSean LiuJim HsiaoHo June ChunJae Lee

Alex Zhang

Regan PlekenpolEmily TangSekheena DeslorieuxSusanna ChenMelody LaiChristine Choi

LAYOUT ASST. EDITORSAngela WuDongmyung Lee

LayoutKathy ZhouKevin MaJun Yong Bae

PHOTOGRAPHERSMars HuangCindy SongJudy Park

ARTISTSYong Jin KimChristine LinJoo Yeon Lim

Teacher SponsorsMr. Brian LongbothamMs. Linda SamarliaMr. John Miller

THESTAFF

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