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Coming Up / Announcements

 

The nationally-ranked Western Michigan Mock Trial Team is looking for members for the 2008-2009 season. If you're interested in law, public speaking, acting, or you just like to argue, you should give mock trial a try. Mock trial is offered as a class for credit through both the Political Science Department and the Lee Honors College. Students can also participate in an extra-curricular capacity. For more information, contact team captain James Conner and/or visit WMU mock trial on Facebook.
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Mock Trial team advances to national competition

Western Michigan University’s mock trial team captured fourth place at the highly competitive Joliet regional over the weekend, finishing with a 5-2-1 record. The fourth place finish secured the team a bid to the national tournament in Waukegan, Ill. on March 14-16. WMU beat teams from University of Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois State and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee among others in a field of 24 teams.

Bethany Whittles, captain and 3-year member of the program led the team with her outstanding attorney performance, which garnered her an award. She scored 17 of 20 possible points as a defense attorney--she also played an attorney on the other side. This was Whittles’ second attorney award of the season. So far this season, the WMU team has won nine individual awards.
This year’s case is very different than that of previous years. Instead of arguing the guilt or innocence of the defendant, we’re arguing the sentence. The defendant has already pled guilty, so the prosecution is trying to argue aggravating factors--meaning that the defendant should get a harsher sentence (up to 30 years in prison) and the defense is trying to argue mitigating factors, meaning that the defendant should get a lighter sentence (probation). The penalty range is 5-30 years, and that sentence can be served on probation or in prison.

The WMU Mock Trial team would like thank attorney coach/adjunct faculty Jamie Geary for his help, as well as attorneys Kurt McCamman, James Liggins, Annette Nickel and Manish Joshi.

The WMU Mock Trial team was founded in 1999 by Dr. Peter Renstrom. The team dedicates this victory to his memory.

Team Roster
Bethany Whittles (Captain): December graduate (Political Science/Public Law);  Dan Brim (Captain): sophomore (Political Science/Public Law and English) LHC; Hannah Markel (Captain): junior (Political Science); James Conner (Captain): junior (Political Science/Public Law and Economics) LHC; Blake Nichols: December graduate (Political Science/Public Law and Spanish) LHC; Reema Nandy: December graduate (Political Science/Public Law) LHC; Catherine Klein: freshman (Biomedical science) LHC; Brent White: senior (Political Science/Public Law and Finance); Chris Little: freshman (Political Science) and Alex Roman: freshman (Political Science) LHC.