The Brenau Invitational Mediation Tournament was held the first weekend in October on the historic Gainesville campus, drawing participants from as far away as Singapore.
The tournament is hosted by Ken Frank, J.D., and Mary Lou Frank, Ph.D. Teams of three students each are invited from other colleges and universities to attend in three rounds of mediation. Each round is evaluated by attorneys, mediators and other trained dispute resolution professionals, many of whom are local to Hall County.
“Our teams come from across the U.S. and often, as we do this year, we have teams from outside the U.S,” Ken Frank said. “This year a team from Singapore journeyed to the tournament.”
Mary Lou Frank presented a training opportunity this year on the importance of self-reflection for mediation professionals in conflict situations.
“These skills are life skills, and can lead these students to success in other parts of their lives,” Mary Lou Frank said. “During mediation tournaments like this, these young people from all over the world learn how to understand other positions, how to deal with conflict, and how to respect and address cross-cultural issues. We want them to develop skills in handling and healing conflict that will allow them to become good leaders.”
Fourteen three-person teams entered the Brenau tournament, which is in its 23rd year. Brenau’s conflict resolution program is the only one in the state of Georgia. Brenau also has an Intercollegiate Mediation Team, which won mediation titles in 2002 and 2014, and participates in tournaments around the nation and world.
