By Jillian Hammell
Staff Writer
Court will be in session beginning Dec. 1 at St. Bonaventure. The two-day mock trial event, Friar Faceoff, gives students the opportunity to participate in a fictional case provided by the American Mock Trial Association.
Bonaventure’s Mock Trial is offered as both a club and class for students interested in competing in the courtroom and engaging in an intellectual challenge. Any student can participate in Mock Trial regardless of year or major, according to sophomore political science major, Alex Noguerola.
Noguerola joined Mock Trial in his first year at Bonaventure and decided to take on further responsibilities in the club this year.
“At first, I participated in the club as a freshman,” Noguerola said. “This year, I enrolled in the class and became the fall semester captain.”
Noguerola is tournament director for the upcoming Friar Faceoff. His duties include hosting and coordinating the event.
According to Noguerola, the Mock Trial participants are presented with a faux case and are responsible for developing points from both the prosecution and defense side.
Mock Trial allows students to get a sneak-peek into the world of law in society. With the upcoming Friar Faceoff, students must research and develop their case of Andy Allen vs. Neptune Underwater Expedition. The work is strenuous, but Noguerola said it is worth the time and effort.
“It has been a busy and rewarding experience thus far,” Noguerola said.
Fourteen different teams from schools such as Buffalo State, St. John Fisher, SUNY Fredonia and University of Rochester will meet at Bonaventure to tackle the case.
Bonaventure faculty members and attorneys from Portville, Allegany, Olean and Buffalo will judge the student attorneys.
The event, to be held in Plassmann Hall, will simulate a courtroom and include two teams of Bonaventure students.
“Every tournament has to have a unique name,” Noguerola said. “We decided to choose Friar Faceoff to pay respect to the Franciscan values but still address our competitive edge.”
Alissa Foster, a freshman political science major, is a newcomer to the Bonaventure’s Mock Trial. Foster is looking forward to the Friar Faceoff this weekend.
“During this event, I will be both a witness for the defense side and an attorney for the plaintiff,” Foster said. “I love Mock Trial. It is fun and very competitive.”
Foster, as well as several other members of Mock Trial, attended the 4th Annual Colgate Classic at Colgate University. The invitational event allowed Bonaventure members to practice and prepare for their presented case. Each member who traveled to Colgate was brand new to Bonaventure’s Mock Trial.
“I think that during the Friar Faceoff, the members will be more prepared,” Noguerola said. “They have already been introduced to the process and presentation, which may help them get over their nerves.”
Students have been preparing since the beginning of the semester and are ready to showcase their hard work.
hammelljl12@bonaventure.edu
