MUN Directors

Delegates Greatly Appreciate Their MUN Directors
By: Genna Snider

None of us would be here if it wasn't for our delegations' directors. They take the time out of their busy schedules to haul us all to The Hague for a week in the middle of the school year, often leaving their own classes to fend for themselves with a substitute teacher. Some directors organize trips to Amsterdam for the free Wednesday afternoon, dinner out in The Hague, nights out with our friends and fellow delegates. Ms. Jangochian from The English School says that she organized "delegation dinners and a tour of Amsterdam on Sunday" when their delegation arrived in the Netherlands. They stay up late to make sure we make it back to the hotels in time for curfew and also make sure that delegates are home safe at their host-homes; they spend sleepless nights with one ear on the hotel room door so they can be sure none of us sneak out to go to each other's rooms. So by the end of the week, the directors are exhausted, and deserve a big thank you from each and every delegate.
    While many of you may think that your director is bothersome – not letting you stay out later, and checking in on you in your commission to make sure you are there and not skipping, they are doing it for your own good. They are legally responsible for you this week and the directors have to avoid problems and they have to be prepared for anything whether it is a bloody nose or a drunken delegate. Directors are here for your benefit; they only want you to learn as much as possible and take as much away from this conference as you can. Ms. Herding from the Benenden School in Kent, UK, was quoted saying "this is a very professional conference that takes a lot of commitment and voluntary work from the directors". The directors aren't forced to be here, but they are taking the time to be here and make your MUN experience that much better
    One director, Alexander Kish from the American International School of Budapest, has participated in THIMUN for nineteen years, and one of his own former-students is now a director here at THIMUN. Ms. Dubock complimented Mr. Kish and commented that "he is a very dedicated man and is really going to be missed by many here". Mr. Kish will "really miss the energy and the unique, differing viewpoints from the students at THIMUN" and he "truly believes that the real UN and legislatures should always look at students resolutions".
THIMUN Advisory Board is made up of MUN directors, such as Mr. Kollar who in addition to their responsibility of chaperoning their delegations, help coordinate all the forums here at the conference.    While we wouldn't be at THIMUN without our directors, this is a student-led conference and the directors take a back seat role and let the students lobby, debate, speak etc. In the off-conference hours, directors aid delegates writing their resolutions, practicing public speaking with the delegates and helping them become the best delegate they can be.
    Hopefully this article will make many of you realize that these directors aren't here to be a nuisance; they are here to make sure that each and every delegate gains maximum benefit from this conference. So make sure to thank your directors for all their hard work this week; you owe it all to them for being here!