By JennaLee Mountjoy

October 2006

FSU TO TRAIN MORE THAN 200 YOUTH IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State University has long been a leader in promoting mediation as a means of conflict resolution, and this year the university will continue that commitment during its annual celebration of Mediation Day.

FSU will host more than 200 young peer mediators for "Let's Talk About It," one of the only events in the country focusing on training elementary, middle and high school students in peer mediation. The event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Oglesby Union Ballroom, located in the Oglesby Student Union. After opening statements from Fred Lewis, chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, participants will attend workshops is areas such as anger management, listening respectfully and the importance of diversity that will train them to use peer mediation to resolve conflict.

This year's celebration is unique due to the large number of FSU student volunteers who will contribute their time and effort to the event. Members of the Education Learning Community will be working with participating students, and giving them feedback on their performances.

"Peer mediation is very important, especially for school age children," said Julianna Hendley, a member of the Education Learning Community and president of the FSU Peer Mediation Club. "We are showing them techniques and ideas to handle their own problems and to learn to be better communicators."

Director of the Education Learning Community, John Bruno, agreed.

"My mediation skills have profoundly affected my teaching, my ability to communicate and listen effectively, my personal relationships and my ability to counsel students and teachers," Bruno said. "I am hopeful that these children will also continue to promote peaceful solutions to conflicts."

Student mediators Brooke Harrison and Leo Georgi, both fifth-graders at The Florida State University School, said they value the importance of conflict resolution in their school.

"It helps you become a good listener and understand people better," Harrison said. "You get to experience what kids are going through every day at school."

"It resolves the problem before it turns into a fight," Georgi added.

In addition to Mediation Day, FSU continually promotes conflict resolution through efforts to train teachers to promote mediation at Leon County schools. FSU also offers programs through its Student Affairs programs and services, the Human Resources Ombuds Program, the FSU Police Department and the FSU Center for Employee Assistance. Also, the FSU College of Law is affiliated with the Florida Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Center and offers an interdisciplinary graduate minor in alternative dispute resolution.

Mediation Day celebrates FSU's commitment to conflict resolution and joins Gov. Jeb Bush's proclamation designating Oct. 15-22 as Mediation Week in Florida and the international recognition of Oct. 19 as Conflict Resolution Day by the Association for Conflict Resolution and the World Mediation Forum.
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