Mediation Team Wins Trophies and Makes Friends in Greece

Principia's mediation team placed sixth in Team Advocacy and fourth in Team Mediation at the Athens International Invitational Mediation Tournament in May. In addition, team members (pictured above, from left) Namrata Roy (US’ 15, C’19), Connor Fiddler (C’18), and Elaina Cokinos (C’17) took home the eighth-, sixth-, and second-place trophies, respectively, for Individual Mediation. Teams from Greece, Turkey, Syria, Romania, Albania, the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and United States competed at the inaugural event hosted by the International Academy of Dispute Resolution (INADR).

Principia was the smallest school represented in the competition and one of only two undergraduate teams. The other 20 teams were all from law schools. “It was a serious tournament with heavy-hitting players, but it was also a friendly competition,” says team coach Dr. Jeffrey Steele. “It was wonderful to see how everyone focused on playing rather than competing. Principia students worked hard to present their ‘A’ game.”

Meeting the Team Made Up of Syrian Refugees

Always looking for ways to reinforce the value of overcoming differences, INADR organizers extended an invitation to Syrians living at a nearby refugee camp to join the tournament. Three former university students and three members of the Red Crescent (volunteers in Syria’s version of the Red Cross) formed a team, ultimately placing 10th in Team Advocacy. One evening, while dining with the Principia team, the Syrian group shared stories about escaping to Greece by boat, leaving family, friends, and everything they owned behind. They also spoke about day-to-day life in Greece, explaining that they frequently act as informal interpreters and even mediators in the refugee camp, partly due to their ability to speak Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish, and English.

“Part of our work at the tournament was to help teach the Syrian refugees about conflict resolution,” says Principia team captain Elaina Cokinos. “There is so much healing and peacemaking involved in mediation, and this was an opportunity to be harmonizers and creative thinkers. There is also such a difference between sympathy and compassion, and I focused on not being sympathetic but compassionate to these individuals. I was grateful to witness safety, love, guidance, and hope.”

Following the tournament, Principia’s team joined other competitors for a tour of Athens, taking in famous sites, including the Acropolis, Areopagus (Mars’ Hill), and the Olympic track stadium. Elaina, whose family is originally from Greece, loved the cultural aspect of the trip in addition to the valuable tournament experience. “Our trip in Greece was an enriching and amazing experience,” she says. “The team is so grateful for this opportunity and to Principia for all the encouragement and financial support.”