MTSU ’s mediation team members are celebrating their new status as the 2007 National Intercollegiate Mediation Champions following their performance at an Oct. 26 – 27 tournament at the John Marshall School of Law in Chicago.
MTSU defeated a field of 32 teams including Boston University (second place), the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (third), and the University of Toledo (fourth).
The goal in mock mediation is the resolution of legal disputes outside the parameters of a courtroom trial. Competition in mock mediation helps students hone their public speaking skills, critical and analytical thinking and peacemaking talents.
Sarah Farthing of Jefferson City and Ryan Richards of Sweetwater were awarded All-American honors as mediators. Farthing was selected by her teammates to represent the school in the championship round because she had the highest individual mediation scores of the group in regular competition.
Other members of the national champion team include Edward Alsobrook, Pete Frech, Logan Grant, Aleece McKnight, Kristin Pegram, Candes Prewitt, Loren Sanderson, Carlissa Shaw, Jerry Strait, Courtney Williams and Clay Wood.
Dr. Clyde Willis, a professor of political science, is the director of the student mediation program, funded by the College of Liberal Arts and student activity fees.
MTSU has placed teams in the championship round in six of the last eight years and won the round in 2000.
Additionally, MTSU students won awards in mock trial contests this semester. In contrast to mock mediation, mock trial contests give students facts about a case intended for adjudication in a pretend courtroom. Contenders portray attorneys and witnesses as they try to convince the judges of their positions.
At an invitational tournament Oct. 27 – 28 at Eastern Kentucky University, an MTSU team captured the “Spirit of AMTA (American Mock Trial Association) Award” for good sportsmanship. Also at EKU, Rachel Harmon and Stella Mitchell won witness awards. Nichole Roehrich was awarded a best attorney honor at a tournament at Ohio State University and Lani Lester won a witness award at a tournament at St. Louis University on Oct. 13 – 14.
