[141] Mock Trial Event Yields Victories For Two MTSU Teams and Three Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 12, 2009
CONTACT: Dr. John R. Vile, 615-898-2152

MOCK TRIAL EVENT YIELDS VICTORIES FOR TWO MTSU TEAMS AND THREE STUDENTS
Coach Says Early Wins Denote ‘Strongest Start In Years ’for MTSU Mock Trial Teams

(MURFREESBORO)—Over the Oct. 9-11 weekend, two MTSU mock trial teams distinguished themselves in the year’s first competition at St. Louis University among a field of 34 teams from eight states.
One MTSU team, which was led by Austin Purvis, a senior political science major from Memphis, shared the winning record of seven wins and a tie with a team from Washington University in St. Louis, while a second MTSU team led by Daniel Vaughan, a senior pre-law major from Mount Juliet, came in third, with a record of six wins, one loss and one tie.
"This is MTSU's strongest start in recent years," said an enthusiastic Dr. John R. Vile, dean of the University Honors College at MTSU and the team’s co-coach. "We have a great mix of new and returning students in our mock trial program this year, and hope this is only the first of many future wins." The mock team led by Purvis consisted of David Haggard, a junior English major from Greenbriar; Kaitlin Beck, a sophomore political science major from Murfreesboro, who play the role of attorneys; Deborah Anderson, a sophomore mass communication major from Murfreesboro; Andrew Dellinger, a freshman political science major from Franklin; Nathan Brown, a freshman physics major from Murfreesboro, who played witness roles; and Kamal Saba, a sophomore international relations/accounting major, who served as a timekeeper. In round one, the MTSU team took both ballots against Case Western University, and in round two, MTSU took both ballots against Illinois State. In round three, the MTSU team split ballots with Washington University’s team, before taking took both ballots against Missouri at Kansas City in round four. The MTSU team led by Vaughan included Nicole Vandewalker, a senior criminal justice major from White House, along with Jacob Strait, a political science major from Nashville, and Lee Whitwell, a junior political science major from Pulaski, in attorney roles. Nathaniel Green, a senior political science/economics major from La Vergne; Jillian Watkins, a junior international relations major from Cleveland, Tenn.; and Micah McClure, a junior political science major from Chattanooga were witnesses. In their first round, the team won both ballots against Bradley University, and in the second round, the team members won one ballot and tied another with Central Missouri before splitting ballots with team from Washington University in the third round. In the fourth, the MTSU took both ballots against another Washington team. Regarding the early victories, Vile said such wins are particularly significant, because they are from the first tournament of the year.
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"This will give us great momentum in preparing for our own tournament in mid-November," he noted. In addition to team awards, MTSU students won the highest number of individual awards at the tournament, including Purvis, who notched a perfect score to achieve the top Outstanding Attorney Award, and McClure and Brown, who both took Outstanding Witness Awards. Sponsored by the Department of Political Science and by student activity funds, the mock trial teams at MTSU are coached by Vile and Brandi Snow, a local attorney and MTSU mock trial alumnus. In addition to the aforementioned teams, MTSU has three other mock trial teams that will participate in subsequent tournaments, including one of the nation’s largest tournaments, which will be held at MTSU on Nov. 13 and 14.



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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.