One of the attractions of BUMP for students is its confidentiality. There are no records, and mediators may not involve themselves in a dispute in which they know a party involved or even if they recognize a disputant's name. Students dissatisfied with the mediation may pursue other avenues within the University. What separates BUMP from other Brown resolution processes is that the disputants themselves arrive at the solution to their problems. The role of the mediator in BUMP is to listen and identify common points so disputants can build mutually satisfying resolutions.
Mediation is forward thinking.
After disputants discuss their differences in a setting that puts all parties on equal ground, mediators reflect on what they have heard. In most cases, it is this prompt discussion that lead disputants to a written agreement that they sign. All BUMP mediators are professionally trained. BUMP mediators, in turn, make presentations to residence counselors, who often use the same conflict resolution techniques in the residence halls. The heart of mediation is education.