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Political science students bring home awards

News from the Department of Politics and Geography
South Carolina Student Legislature (SCSL)

The Coastal Carolina University's S.C. Student Legislature Team participated in the statewide competition Oct. 26 to 30, continuing a winning tradition. Each year, students present legislation they have written, introduce that legislation in front of the SCSL House or Senate, debate and vote on bills that will be packaged into a bill book that is presented to the actual S.C. State Assembly, and run for office.

Teams from 11 colleges and universities from across the state competed in this year’s event. CCU student Brandon Reilly was elected to serve as lieutenant governor and was nominated for the Best Senator Award. Taylor Eubanks, SGA president, was nominated as an Outstanding Senior member; and Africa Brown won the award for Best Representative. Of the 12 bills presented by the delegation, 11 of them passed one of the houses; overall, the delegation had an 87 percent passage rate in both chambers.

The SCSL delegation consisted of Nicholas Baldino, Africa Brown (delegation vice-chair), Ian Detweiler, Kelsey Dudley, Taylor Eubanks, Randall Harper, Zachary Linowski, Brandon Reilly, Rebecca Salley, T’ara Smith, Tanner Spurgeon, George Taylor, Tennia Walker and Desmond Wallace (delegation chair).

CCU students were recognized as “Best Large Delegation” in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 competitions.

Mock Trial
The Coastal Carolina University Mock Trial Team was awarded the Team Spirit of American Mock Trial Association award at the Robert E. Sanders Mock Trial Invitational Tournament Oct. 29-30 at Eastern Kentucky University.

Mock trial is an activity in which students learn the principles of trial advocacy and then apply those principles as they try a fictitious case. Students learn how to plan, draft and present arguments to the court. Presentations include opening statements, direct and cross examination of witnesses and closing arguments.

The team spirit award goes to a team that is “outgoing and friendly before and after trial; extremely cordial during the trial; team demonstrated through its behavior (e.g., offering use of exhibits, providing timekeeping devices) a willingness to go beyond the call of duty; a shining example of AMTA’s ideal of civility, fair play and justice.”

The mock trial team consisted of Ryan Carlson, Rachel Gainey (team captain), Sara Ison, Dexter Maple, Danny Mitchell, George Paul, Sarah St. Pierre, Alana Thornton and Andre Williams.

Some 26 teams from around the country competed in this event.