MUN = Better World

By George Jieh

You heard her in the opening ceremony. You’ve seen her around the Hwa Chong campus, but who IS the THIMUN board member, Mrs. Frances Laughlin, really? Munity-East gets up close and personal with about her and her feelings about MUN.Munity-East: Could you tell us a little bit about what you do on the THIMUN board?Frances Laughlin: I am the secretary of the board, which means I take minutes at meetings and put out agendas, but as a board we act collectively. We have discussions about how conferences should be run. Last year we had a set of statutes which we discussed in great length and which we published on the website. We also talk about how to push THIMUN even further. Munity-East: What are some of your experiences with Model United Nations?Frances Laughlin: The one that I remeber most vividly is the first time I went [to THIMUN-The Hague]. I stood in for another teacher who was sick. I was allowed to go to THIMUN-The Hague conference, which was then about 3000 students, and I was just blown away by the level of expertise, things people knew, and the confidence [with which] people spoke. I was just totally hooked. That first experience has stayed with me. I am still always amazed by what students say, what they can do, what they know, and how they conduct themselves when they come to these conferences. Munity-East: What’s your impression of THIMUN-Singapore so far?Frances Laughlin: I am very impressed. I like the setting. I like the institution here. I think people take it very seriously. The level of debate and lobbying has been very serious, and that’s what we are aiming for, not just a fun trip. I am definitely impressed by the people and admin staff who have really gone out of their way to make things work. Munity-East: What’s the main difference between THIMUN in The Hague and THIMUN in Singapore?Frances Laughlin: I think its the size. The Hague has about 4000 people. THIMUN Singapore is THIMUN not just any other THIMUN affiliated conference, many things are the same. A lot of it is familiar. The rules of debate, the student officers, and Munity-East, are very familiar. Munity-East: What are your views on the delegates here in this year’s conference?Frances Laughlin: I think they are working very hard. I think there are more delegates here that are serious about what they’re doing. Sometimes you feel like people come to The Hague for a bit of a party, but here I can see people are working very hard and the resolutions I have seen are very impressive. That really made an impression on me.Munity-East: What do you consider to be the deeper meaning of Model United Nations?Frances Laughlin: There is a better way. There is a future that is better. The really important thing about MUN is that it consists of people who do believe that you can change things and make things better for everybody. I know it sounds cliché to say that you want to make the world a better place, but I think that’s what MUN does. I think it makes better citizens that will make a better world. [It causes] a constant move towards improvement. Munity-East: Any words for the delegates?Frances Laughlin: Make the most of the time you [spend] doing MUN. [The conferences] are really important in your life. Even if they don’t feel like it now, they are and will be the most important times of your life.We are the future, and we can make a difference. Munity-East wishes