MUN conferences are a great way to socialize. Hundreds of people from many countries around the world unite. The jokes, gossip, meeting new people, getting to discover a new city, the bonds, friendships, the smile we see on each other’s faces are what make MUN conferences special. It wasn’t the case for this year. The writer can sincerely admit that he had not expected to have this much fun in an online conference. We know, conferences in the last year weren’t like what we are used to, but we will get through this as a whole like we always do. As the press team, we want to thank all of our Chairs, Deputy Chairs, Secretariat Generals, THIMUN Foundation Board, Delegates and MUN directors. Your energy and motivation are what made this conference amazing. The writer also wants to thank all of the press members who have made this one of the most memorable conferences for him. They have a few words to say, before saying goodbye until next year.
<Artwork by Valentine Leroux>
E: Text Editors – Joey Lin, Ping Tsai
R: Reporters – Zoi Agapitou, Ege Özemek, Meghna Mahboobani, Shichun Zhang, Paula Krinke Garcia
A: Artwork – Jessie Liao, Valentine Leroux, Vittoria Ginevri
L: Layout – Selim Alp Maltepe, Shutong Xu
EIC: Editor In Chief – Yoona Son (Iris)
Yoona Son (Editor in Chief)
It surely has been a great experience to work with peers all around the world regarding global issues. I am so glad and grateful to be able to cooperate with amazing people, who are all highly responsible, creative and well qualified! I am impressed to see everyone’s hard work and a wonderful magazine as a result! And a huge thank you to everyone in the team to put their best effort! This would be the last chance for me to participate in THIMUN and will always remain in my mind. I will miss you all!!
Her favorite work: https://munity.thimun-online.org/ 🙂
Joey Lin (Text Editor)
Last year, I did not expect myself to go to THIMUN The Hague. Before Corona hit, I did not expect myself to attend THIMUN online. When I got the email from Iris, I did not expect to meet so many new people from all around the globe. When I joined the first meeting, I did not expect all the people with colorful personalities to work together so seamlessly. When going onto the Zoom call for article ideas for the last time, I did not expect such creative, amicable, and hardworking people to have such a hearty laugh and a meme-y vibe out of taking the team photo. But it all happened. I learned so much about editing, but also reporting, expressing political ideas through drawings, creating layout on a website, and accommodating to the new format. I met such industrious and light-hearted people and got to catch a glimpse of everyone’s talent. The final product we have created is one that would carry so much memories. If Ed Sheeran will hold on to the afterglow, I’ll definitely hold on to the aftertaste of the dinners consumed during these nights, the warm glow radiating from the boxes that light up during the calls, and the profound emotion of feeling something as big as MUNITY pass through me. I’m so, so glad it all happened!
His favorite work:
Article: http://munity.thimun-online.org/what-your-mask-says-about-you/
Artwork: http://munity.thimun-online.org/i-am-not-broken-i-am-not-confused-i-do-not-need-to-be-fixed/
Ping Tsai (Text Editor)
It has been a wild ride. From working in the most amazing team to editing articles about Swiss cheese, I have had so much fun at this conference. I loved how everyone was passionate about the things they do and the feeling of working with all of you toward a common goal. There is this sense of unity and a desire to jointly improve. All the reporters wrote great articles that are, in fact, some of the most well-written ones I have had the privilege to edit 🙂 The creativity and talent of the artists were just crazy—as one can tell from the amount of time I spent selecting my “favorite”. Although I know saying something like “the best thing about THIMUN was definitely the people” is very cheesy, I have to say that through MUNITY I was able to meet the wackiest and friendliest people. Really! I am beyond grateful to spend my last conference as a press team member with you guys!
Her favorite work:
Article: https://munity.thimun-online.org/i-am-not-broken-i-am-not-confused-i-do-not-need-to-be-fixed/
Artwork: https://munity.thimun-online.org/should-we-be-scared-of-whatsapps-new-privacy-policy/
Zoi Agapitou (Reporter)
Coming into the online version of THIMUN I didn’t think it would be as fun as the actual conference, but getting to work with such an amazing team has truly made this the experience of a lifetime and I am so grateful to have met all these wonderful people!
Her favorite work: http://munity.thimun-online.org/i-am-not-broken-i-am-not-confused-i-do-not-need-to-be-fixed/
Meghna Mahboobani (Reporter)
Meeting new people who love writing and art has been an absolute pleasure. There is nothing I value more than artistic prose and all of you seem passionate in what you do. I would have loved to meet you all in person! But I do not regret digital THIMUN. As much as being a delegate is wonderful, being part of the Press Team is human, it’s interaction, it’s understanding other people. As being a journalist is determined by the personality of others, I rejoice in holding a part of all of you in my heart. Thank you!
Her favorite works:
Article: http://munity.thimun-online.org/before-sustainable-capitalism-capitalism-in-a-conflictual-society/Artwork: http://munity.thimun-online.org/us-police-behaviour-white-vs-black-people/
Paula Garcia Krinke (Reporter)
THIMUN has been an amazing experience; unfortunately the week has come to an end. Working with the Press Team was an amazing experience as well as getting to know them. They were all creative in their own ways. I want to give a special thanks to the text editors Ping and Joey for editing my articles and Iris and Mr Buscher for motivating us every start of the day and making every single day of this experience fun and unforgettable. Hope to be part of THIMUN next year again.
Her favorite work:
https://munity.thimun-online.org/what-to-do-during-lockdown/
Nina Shichun Zhang (Reporter)
It’s been fun working with other people, and I really enjoyed talking to everyone. I really want to thank Ping and Joey for editing my articles. I’m aware that my grammar is horrible, and I still need to improve my writing skills, thanks a lot for making my articles more readable. I also love the art works created by the artists, they are amazing. THIMUN has been different from all the conferences that I have attended, and I have definitely learned more about being a reporter and other press skills. Lastly, thank you Iris for being a good, understanding and organised editor in chief, and Mr. Buscher for supporting the press team. I look forward to attending THIMUN again next year!
Her favorite works:
https://munity.thimun-online.org/thimun-overused-words-and-interesting-analogies/
https://munity.thimun-online.org/no-more-stroopwafels-laments-of-a-virtual-conference/
Eva Shutong Xu (Layout)
It has always been my pleasure to join THIMUN. This year, different from last year, I am a member of MUNITY. A week with you guys in the MUNITY Press team is wonderful. Though we’re having a lot of problems since it’s an online conference, I’m still enjoying the whole experience. Here I want to especially mention my thanks to our EIC Iris, my co-worker Selim, and Mr. Buscher; also, the MUNITY editing website builder (I’m forgetting his name). By the way, I like our MUNITY web page, although there are constant troubles haha. I think we’ve discovered a lot of new functions of the website. Through doing my layout work, I see everyone’s hard work and effort, from every article, painting, and our countless messages in the WhatsApp chat group. All in all, I’m so grateful to meet you guys in MUNITY 2021. Hope to join THIMUN again next year, and meet you all no matter as a delegate or as a MUNITY member.
Her favorite work:
http://munity.thimun-online.org/in-the-fight-for-gender-equality/
Selim Alp Maltepe (Layout)
Although the conference has been online, we still had our time spirit. We created a wonderful website of amazing articles and artworks.
His favorite work:
Valentine Leroux (Art)
I really liked our teamwork, the topics were amazing, and I think everyone got along so well ! We would exchange ideas, and spontaneously work with each other, for example, if there was a “lonely” artwork, then it would be likely that the next day a reporter would want to write something related to it, which wasn’t the case last year. I think that even if we were not physically together, we were forced to interact directly with one another, through a call or via messages, while in a single room people can sometimes just work independently, and sometimes simply drop a note on each other’s desk, or tell three words between two conversations. Not to say that the communication in presence wasn’t working, it was so much fun, and many friendships were formed, but I think that it was not lost online, and we did a great job with that. Maybe we spent more time answering one another, or maybe our team was amazing! Also, for a second edition of THIMUN the Hague Munity online, the progress is outstanding! Much more accessible, a huge thank you to the Layout Team!
Her favorite work:
https://munity.thimun-online.org/should-we-be-scared-of-whatsapps-new-privacy-policy/
Jessie Liao (Art/Layout)
The first time having an online conference, it is fresh and special to me. I didn’t expect this to be so fun before we started but seeing everyone enjoy both writing and art, the mood of the team just naturally cheered up. THIMUN has always brought me some amazing experiences. As my last conference, I am thankful that I can have this team working with me. I love how we are all in different countries, sharing different times but all working hard together as a team.
Her favorite work:
\http://munity.thimun-online.org/thimun-overused-words-and-interesting-analogies/
Ege Özemek (Reporter)
Ege’s last words are already up there in the first paragraph:)
His favorite work:
https://munity.thimun-online.org/have-countries-cooperated-during-covid-19-2/
Vittoria Ginevri (Art)
It’s been so great working alongside the other press members. They’re all really talented at what they do, and they’ve worked really hard throughout the week to give out articles and artworks to a really high standard. Every single one of the pieces published this week has been amazing, I’m really honoured to have met and worked with you guys! ^^ Thank you especially to Mr. Buscher and Iris, we couldn’t have done it without you!
Her favorite work: https://munity.thimun-online.org/i-am-not-broken-i-am-not-confused-i-do-not-need-to-be-fixed/
Mr. Buscher (MUN Director):
This is my last go ‘round as a MUNITY or MUNITY East Coordinator, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with this team! The writing has been strong, the artwork has been on point, the layout has stretched the capabilities of a limited platform, but best of all has been the teamwork. The adaptability and flexibility in these unusual circumstances has made this among the more memorable MUNITY teams with which it has been my pleasure to work these past 20 years. Truly outstanding experience all around, guys! By the way, if any of you apply for next year and need recommendations, let me know!
We hope that this conference was enjoyable for everyone. We would have loved to meet all of you in person. Once again, thank you for your energy. See you next year!
-THIMUN MUTITY Press Team 2021-
Written by Ege Özemek
Artwork by Valentine Leroux
