At the Campus Mediation Program I directed at Syracuse University, faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, administrators, and staff members from many different areas of campus life went through mediation training together, and built relationships at a level that did not exist before. The peaceful expression of conflict within the community is a postive value. It can help prevent damaging and costly conflict escalation. Sharing the responsibility for conflict resolution more equally between those experiencing the conflict and the institution at which it occurs is a valuable teaching tool that builds responsibility and accountability. The modeling provided by people who voluntary and nonviolently resolve conflict can build and reinforce community norms.
Mediation provides a good vehicle for working through differences in a respectful manner.
Areas for Further Development Arguments as to how mediation can address the perspectives and concerns of faculty and unionized and non-unionized staff on campus is largely missing from the above discussion. Another important campus constituency left out of this discussion are the campus attorneys and legal services staff. Only recently have their national organizations begun to explore the possible utility of mediation. Developing the case for mediation for these groups should be high on our collective agenda. Finally, we might also begin to share ideas and perspectives on the different rationales for promoting campus mediation more effectively.