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Student initiative, tenacity bring mock trial to St. Olaf

By Becca Heistad '09
November 18, 2008

As a team of St. Olaf College students headed to the Macalester Invitational earlier this month, they were prepared to face off against their rivals. After practicing two to three times a week since the start of the school year, they were ready to suit up and show off their techniques in the competitive arena. The uniform for this team, however, is not jerseys and facemasks, but dress suits and ties.

MockTrialTeam
Members of the St. Olaf Mock Trial Team include (clockwise, from lower left) Amanda Kreun '12, Charles DeBeck '09, Matthew Stewart '12, Bryant Torkelson '10, Thomas Wilshusen '10, Maddy Schaefer '10, Justine Goeke '10 and (in center) Brenna Robinson '10.
That's because this is a mock trial team. Instead of brawn and speed, members of the St. Olaf Mock Trial Team use wits and words to compete against other colleges from around the region. And although the team is only in its second year of existence, its members are already proving they can hold their own against their peers. At the Macalester Invitational, St. Olaf placed seventh out of 37 teams from 23 schools.

"Competitions are pretty nerve-wracking," mock trial member Matt Stewart '12 says. "When you're involved, you're paying close attention the whole time, constantly thinking about what direction you would take the case."

The 18-member St. Olaf Mock Trial Team participates in regional mock trials throughout the upper Midwest, competing against teams from schools including Carleton College, Grinnell College, Macalester College, the University of Minnesota, the University of St. Thomas, Drake University, the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.

Making a mock trial team
With the magnitude of student expression on campus, it may seem surprising that two years ago no college-sponsored debate, speech or forensic programs existed at St. Olaf. But thanks to the persistence of two students, Justine Goeke '10 and Charles DeBeck '09, the St. Olaf Mock Trial Team is quickly gaining recognition.

Goeke, who participated in mock trial in high school, started the campaign for a St. Olaf program. For suggestions on how get a program underway, she e-mailed the American Mock Trial Association, a national organization that connects mock trial teams from schools across the country and hosts the regional and national competitions. Goeke found DeBeck on Facebook through his group "Let's Make Mock Trial at St. Olaf." Through word-of-mouth promotion the pair recruited other interested parties, including Assistant Professor of Political Science Tony Lott, who advises the group.

Lott says the leadership of Goeke and DeBeck is what keeps the group going. While other colleges and universities have faculty-directed programs or mock trial classes, the St. Olaf organization is almost entirely student-run. "Macalester, for example, has a director of speech forensics debate and mock trial who organizes their practices, does their recruiting, makes their transportation happen, gets attorney coaches involved," Goeke says. "Anything that would be done by a director or within a class infrastructure is done at St. Olaf by students."

MockTrialWitness
Brenna Robinson '10 plays the role of a witness and Thomas Wilshusen '10 serves as a judge as the two prepare for a round at a recent mock trial competition.
Three attorneys from the Northfield area -- James Schlichting '68, Jonathan Norrie '98 and Rice County Attorney Paul Beaumaster -- volunteer on a regular basis as coaches, helping the team understand the law, manipulate cases and make arguments. Using and expanding upon case materials provided by the AMTA, the team builds a case, which includes opening and closing statements, speeches and direct and cross-examination of witnesses.

Competitions consist of four rounds of trials, including two rounds each for both the plaintiff and defense, with each round featuring attorneys, timekeepers and witnesses. Team members are encouraged to take positions that play to their natural strengths. "Some of it is scripted, but a lot of it is just off the cuff," DeBeck says. "It's what you can do with what you have."

Opening doors, creating opportunities
St. Olaf members agree that mock trial participation opens doors, both academically and socially. "We've built professional relationships with attorneys and other schools that have been really meaningful," Goeke says. "It introduces you to people you might not have otherwise known."

Lott considers mock trial a valuable experience for any student, regardless of their interest in pursuing a career in the legal field. "For those students who plan on attending law school after St. Olaf, mock trial is an excellent preparation," Lott says. "Students learn to hone the analytic skills and focus their arguments. They are trained to recognize the subtle points of argumentation."

Mock trial participation is equally valuable in developing debating and public speaking skills for students not considering law school, he adds.

While the fall mock trial schedule is made up of invitationals, the team is already looking ahead. This year's goal is to place in the top six teams in the region that will head to the national competition in the spring. Last year they finished seventh. The upcoming invitational at the University of Iowa Dec. 1-2 should be a good test; every other team at the competition went to Nationals last year.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.