Mock Trial Team Qualifies for National Tournament

ONU's Mock Trial Team 448 has qualified for the National Mock Trial Tournament by finishing in a tie for seventh place at the Cincinnati Regional Qualifying Tournament.

Members of the team are: Dan Arant, a sophomore in history from Lima, Ohio; Alexandra Habbouche, a sophomore in political science from Oregon, Ohio; Dan Jones, a senior in political science from Ashland, Ohio; Jesse Longbrake, a senior in political science from New Carlisle, Ohio; Steve Kesslar, a junior in journalism from New Kensington, Pa.; Brad King, a senior in literature from Perrysburg, Ohio; Sheila Willamowski, a junior in political science from Lima, Ohio; and Matt Wiseman, a junior in history from Findlay, Ohio.

Team 448 will travel to Hamilton, Ohio, to compete in the first round of nationals on March 20-22. Six teams will advance from this round to the final competition held in Des Moines, Iowa, in April. ONU will be competing against other top-flight teams in Hamilton, including Case Western, Notre Dame, Pennsylvania and St. John's.

The team will be arguing the hypothetical case of Walton v. Blitz News Network. This is a civil case in which the plaintiff, Walton, a politician who ran on an anti-gun control platform, was linked to a gun suicide by BNN. Walton subsequently lost the election and is suing the news network for defamation of character.