UMass Mock Trial recruiting session
After splitting a ballot victory with one of the nation's top teams this year at regionals, the University of Massachusetts Mock Trial team will begin recruiting members for the 2009-2010 season Monday in the Campus Center. All UMass and Five College undergraduates whose school does not already have a mock trial program are welcome to try out. Monday's event, to be held in Campus Center Room 163C at 6:00pm, will include a Q&A session with the team captains and founder.
After senior Legal Studies major David Chen founded UMass Amherst's program in the fall of 2007, the team has thus far enjoyed two years of competition in the United States' top intercollegiate mock trial circuit, the American Mock Trial Association. Competing alongside universities like Tufts, Brown and perennial powerhouse Harvard at this year's regional tournament, UMass was one win away from nationals, splitting a victory with 4th-ranked Bosron University in it's last match.
Intercollegiate mock trial, the academic equivalent of a varsity athletic team, is an official RSO that competes in unscripted trial proceedings against other colleges using the same national case. In 2008-2009, the fictional case contained a civil defamation suit filed by a controversial right-wing politician against a television news corporation. whose journalistic ethics came into question. Next year's case, per AMTA rules, will be a criminal proceeding.
UMass Amherst Mock Trial is an official RSO funded in part by Political Science, Legal Studies, the Vice Chanellor for Student Affairs and the SGA. We invite students and local media to join us as Monday, as we begin recruiting for the 2009-2010 season-a year in which the goal is no less than that of any other New England team- making it to nationals.