Sylva and Western Carolina University will raise awareness of conflict mediation as an alternative to litigation and to settle personal disputes on Oct. 23-24.

On Oct. 23, a panel of lawyers and certified mediators from Mountain Mediation Services will discuss the advantages of mediation as an alternative to the often costly and time-consuming process of bringing a civil case to court. The event will be held at the Jackson County Justice Center from 12:30-2 p.m. On Oct. 24, members of WCU’s Campus Mediation Society will stage a mediation followed by a question-and-answer session at WCU in Multipurpose Room B in A.K. Hinds University Center from 5-6:45 p.m. The presentation will feature student mediators who recently qualified for the 2012 National Mediation competition sponsored by the American Bar Association.

Both events are free and open to the public. They are supported by WCU’s College of Business and Campus Mediation Society, Mountain Mediation Services, North Carolina Agricultural Mediation Program and by a grant from the American Bar Association.

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