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Spotlight Students sign up for WCU's Campus Mediation Society. Mediation Matters At Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, an emphasis on mediation changes the way students handle conflict in their professional and personal lives. A mediation program open to all business majors trains students to become more effective listeners, negotiators, and communicators. The weekly, two-and-a-half-hour course is taught by business law professor Jayne Zanglein. Zanglein introduces each class with a short discussion about a particular media- tion skill, such as "reframing"— rephrasing a statement in an emo- tionally neutral way. Next, students break into teams for a role-playing exercise to practice that skill. One student plays the mediator; others play the arguing parties. In these exercises, students work through a number of emotion- ally charged conflicts. In one sce- nario, two friends are arguing over Many people get angry and file lawsuits because they want to be heard. Mediation gives them the opportunity to tell their stories. a breach of trust—one has told the other, in confidence, that he has a sexually transmitted disease; the other repeats that confidence to a cousin diagnosed with a similar condition. Other business-related scenarios involve age discrimina- tion, accidents, and tenant-landlord disputes. "If neither party will budge, we break into private caucuses so the mediator can speak one-on-one to each party," says Zanglein. The goal, she adds, is to teach students how to break through communication barriers. WCU student Eric Brailsford-Cato (at head of table) competes in the final round at National Mediation Competition. 72 BizEd JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011 In 2009, a team of five WCU students competed in the National Mediation Tournament at the John Marshall School of Law in Chicago, where they placed third and won —Jane Zanglein the award for "Outstanding New School." Business major Eric Brails- ford-Cato was named "All-American Mediator." In the 2010 competition, WCU's team placed sixth and won in the Advocate-Client category. This year, Brailsford-Cato estab- lished WCU's Campus Mediation Society, a student organization formed to promote cross-cultural communication and help students develop their skills. The group also helps mediate on-campus disputes between students. The school not only offers stu- dents the opportunity to minor in mediation, but also delivers its media- tion course for free to interested faculty and staff over two weekends. The college works with the local mediation center to help develop course content. Mediation skills are "vital to busi- ness," says Zanglein, whether they're used to defuse conflicts, bridge cul- tural differences, or correct problems before they lead to lost productivi- ty—or even lawsuits. "Many people get angry and file lawsuits because they want to be heard," she says. "Mediation gives them the opportu- nity to tell their stories." ■ z