New Reactions from Old Mouths

By Joanne Lii
First impressions can make a world of difference when it comes to making a judgment. The vast number of veteran delegates at the THIMUN-Singapore conference this year is a statement to how compelling the international discussion was last year, but what are the veterans’ opinions of the new and improved THIMUN-Singapore III? Once caught in the excitement of creating and passing impeccable resolutions, it’s hard not to participate in more MUN conferences, especially one as large as Singapore’s mock session. So how has THIMUN-Singapore changed since 2006 and what are some of the new qualities to look forward to this year? Upon entering the THIMUN-Singapore conference grounds, the organization and efficient processes of registration and helping delegates find the proper room wowed old and new participants alike. The place setting of many of the rooms this year has made communication and efficiency improve greatly. This is partly due to the completion of the SALT center and better reorganization of what tools delegates need most often like computers. “It was also very helpful that the chairs did their research and new exactly what to do,” says Kevin Chu. Since many of the troubles that plagued last year’s conference, such as the misplacement of placards, were already dealt with before the conference began, participants feel activities will run much more smoothly throughout the four days. With the incredible amount of participants, veteran delegates must learn to be patient and get used to the number of people who wish to speak when given the opportunity. As Noam Jacoby from Singapore put it, “It’s going to be a long day.” However, returning delegate Maria Stanislavova believes the participants of this year are “friendlier and nicer and seem to know what they are doing.” They seem more willing and driven to accomplish the goals of this conference and actively find other delegates to discuss issues. Hopefully, the new participants will continue to impress old-time participants with their knowledgeable and skilled performances.Many first-time delegates attending THIMUN-Singapore were surprised at what they found. The grand setting and strict rules contributed to their feeling they had arrived at a much larger and more formal conferences as opposed to the more casual ones they had been to before. The Delegate of Iran, Arjun Nihalani says, “There feels like a lot of competition to pass a good resolution.” Although the conference seems intimidating at first, many hope to make lots of friends in such a huge international setting. Many delegates are much more passionate about THIMUN-Singapore III compared to previous years because of the central issues and the number of participants at this year’s conference. Ignacio Lames, the Delegate of Panama in the Security Council, feels that because of the sheer number of people, the event gives people, and especially teenagers, the sense that young adults can make a difference, too. He adds that he “quite likes it more this year.”Such a large activity is sure to attract many people who want to make a difference or just want to make lots of friends. The MUN conferences are continually changing to give delegates greater experience in a more comfortable setting. Although most people agree with Tay Kai Xian that “it is still too early to tell if the conference will be better than last years,” they have high hopes from what they have seen so far.