Mediation Team Wins Trophies in Dubai
Principia College’s mediation team—Meredith Clark, Luiza Dias, Corey Fedde, Lauren Littell, Brian Simpson, and Nate Waters—traveled to Dubai in late January to participate in the Inaugural Dubai Invitational Mediation Tournament. Now back on campus, they are sharing details of a tremendous learning experience—and exhibiting their trophies.
Principia claimed one of the “Outstanding Newcomer” trophies, fifth and third place in Team Mediation, and first place in Team Advocacy. Meredith placed third and Brian sixth in the Individual Mediator category. Nate and Luiza placed first in the Individual Advocate Pair category, and Nate and Corey placed fourth.
Prior to the competition, participants took advantage of two days of workshops covering mediation techniques and cultural awareness. “Although there were winners and trophies, the tournament was about something of far greater value,” Meredith notes. “The true purpose was to teach us the universal power of mediation as a tool for progress and healing. Despite immense cultural differences, students from around the world were able to work together to find creative solutions to difficult conflicts.”
Many students formed personal ties as well. “Now, I genuinely feel I have friends in England, India, Sri Lanka, and Saudi Arabia,” Lauren says. “We share a common interest in resolving conflict peacefully.”
Dr. Jeff Steele, a Principia professor, trained the students along with professional mediator Dick Calkins; Steele also traveled with the students to Dubai. “Our mediation team, while young in experience, has a mature attitude toward peacemaking,” Steele notes. “Mediation practice is a skill that demonstrates Principia’s core educational philosophy: seeing God’s real man/woman in action while seeking harmonious solutions in every situation.”
Nate reinforces that point, noting that “the mindset here at Principia” helped his team compete successfully against third-year Tulane University Law School students. “It was clear that the cultural understanding fostered here at Principia through our academic program, which for most students includes at least one study abroad, aided our team in settling the cases.”
Though they’ve been back for over a week now, the students are still awed by how much they learned. As Brian puts it, “The tournament was the epitome of experiential learning. It felt like we were . . . part of peacemaking on a professional, ‘real’ scale.” Corey recalls needing to be nimble: “We approached each case with ideas on how the issue would be resolved, but they never ended up the way we planned.” And Luiza appreciates the mentoring she received: “The judges were extremely open and willing to give professional advice and share their experience.”
Along with all that learning, the team carved out time to see a few sites, including the Burj Khalifa—the world’s tallest building—and the famed Dubai Mall. They also bartered in the “souk” marketplaces, rode SUVs on sand dunes (termed “dune bashing”), and toured an Islamic cultural center.
Looking ahead, Principia has been invited to compete in the next international mediation event (date and place to be determined), and the team’s success in Dubai may have been enough to warrant a berth at the 2013 U.S. Nationals in Des Moines in November. Stay tuned!
See a full list of results from the Dubai tournament.
View photos below from the team’s time in Dubai.