By Jessie Hethcoat
A stranger walked into Franz Hall, Room 231, Friday night and was greeted by a roomful of students, all clad in suits, ties and skirts, who rose to their feet.
On one side of the room stood one of UP's two mock trial teams. On the other was the Stanford A team, considered the best in the weekend's showdown, the Pacific Northwest Mock Trial Regional competition, which pitted university teams from California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Utah. Serious faces abounded on all of the competitors.
The atmosphere shifted as soon as the students realized the stranger wasn't the judge. The would-be defense attorneys, defendant and prosecutor relaxed. They sat back down and resumed their conversations, about sports, movies and television.
Until the door opened again. In came the judge and the tone changed dramatically again. All the participants rose. The crowd grew quiet again. Court was in session.
The University of Portland hosted this year's regionals, which saw 44 trials argued and decided. There were 22 teams in the competition, eight of which advanced to nationals.
"Had we won against UW, we would have qualified for nationals," said UP senior Ben Wolverton, who played witness Drew Walton in the mock trial about an alleged libel case involving a television news station and a candidate for governor.
Mock trial is an opportunity for students, many who are considering careers in law, to test the waters, said Professor William Curtis, one of UP's coaches.
During a season, teams from all participating schools are assigned a case and practice how they would prosecute or defend it.
The competition is heated, with participants as committed as those who might be engaged in an athletic event. "This is a perfectly unique spectator sport," freshman Gabby Hansen, who watched some of the cases being argued. "You have the excitement because of the uncertainty of its results and also the interesting, intellectual aspect."
Wolverton, who won a Best Witness award in the regional competition, has participated in mock trial for the past three years.
"It was the best regional experience I've had," said Wolverton, who spoke with a Southern accent for his role.
Preparing for mock trial is intense and time-consuming. Students memorize direct examinations and have to prepare for cross examinations, the spontaneous, questioning on one's feet that is crucial to a good prosecutor.
"The amount of work that has to be done for each competition is pretty overwhelming," Wolverton said. "So, personally, I would have been a little horrified if we were going to nationals."
The team ended up with three wins, four losses and one tie. Most members of the team are new to mock trial. For them, this is definitely a step in the right direction.
Adviser William Curtis pointed out that there is no real concentration of majors on the team.
"Everyone on the team is more or less interested in law school," Curtis said. "Some students are more sure than others about law school. Some have really gotten into mock trial, and it has confirmed their interest in attending."
