Peer mediation solutions

by lindsay sax <reporter>

SM North offers students to work out problems through peer mediation.

"It's a process of problem solving that students use to resolve conflicts," sponsor Becky Sandhaus said.

Peer mediators are students who are recommended by their teachers and are hand-picked by Sandhaus. Once the students are chosen, they go through a day of training, which helps them learn how to handle and help solve problems.

There are 25 peer mediators who went through training in October. When two people decide to go into mediation, they, along with two mediators, go into a conference room. Here they tell their story one at a time while following certain rules. The rules consist of no shouting, interrupting and no name-calling. When the students come to an agreement they must fill out a form that says that they agree to what they talked about and will try to follow through with the solution decided on.

The most common problems are friends who have gotten into arguments and people who have borrowed something without giving it back.

"They meet just once," Sandhaus said. "A check up is possible for follow up if the student wants."

Forms for peer mediation are located in the office and in student services.