Advance, Cornell ILR School's publication for alumni and friends.
Issue link: https://advance.epubxp.com/i/132084
Scheinman's Scope Expanding T he Martin and Laurie Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution is shaping how conflicts are resolved in workplaces across the country. Institute is now the preeminent academic institution for the study and practice of workplace dispute resolution." Since receiving a $2 million endowment from the Scheinmans in 2007, the institute has seen dramatic growth in the range and scope of its operations — quintupling its budget, programs and staff. The institute's programs extend from Ithaca, New York City and Washington, D.C., to Arizona, California, Nevada and Alaska, impacting neutrals and practitioners, state and federal agencies, and private corporations. "We're a lot bigger, a lot more diverse than we were back then," says David Lipsky, director of the institute and the Anne Evans Estabrook Professor of Dispute Resolution. "Because of Marty and Laurie's generosity, we believe the Scheinman F or the world's numberone ranked debate team, it's not all about winning. "What we're really about is improving students' ability to debate, to think, to speak," says coach Sam Nelson, director of forensics and senior lecturer at the ILR School. "We're giving them skills that will help them reach their goals and succeed in life." 6 faculty, the research interests of graduate students, and the courses and extracurricular activities on dispute resolution available to undergraduates," says Colvin, chairperson of the Department of Labor Relations, Law, and History. "The Scheinman Institute's workshops and training sessions have not only been a resource for my research, they have provided me the opporAmong the greatest beneficitunity to hone my skills as a aries, though, may be stuneutral through hands-on dents, says Professor Alex practice," says Todd Dickey Colvin, the institute's associate Ph.D. '15. director. "The mentoring I have "There's a real synergy received through the instibetween the development of tute's programming, such as At its heart, the Speech and Debate Program — also known as the Cornell Forensics Society — is about inclusion. With more than 100 members, Cornell has the largest college debate team in the world. "We accept everyone, and we get a lot more excited when someone goes from terrible to medium than from naturally good to a little bit better," says Nelson. "We have a different philosophy than most programs. There's an old saying about Cornell — that it's elite, not elitist. That's exemplified better by the debate team, I think, than anywhere else on campus." "One aspect of the program we're particularly proud of is the willingness of upperclassmen to invest their time in younger members of the team," says Kirat Singh A&S; '14, vice president of external affairs. "It's wonderful to see younger members take their cues from the older ones and perpetuate this culture of support and teamwork." its Advanced Mediation Labs, as well as informally from faculty and staff, has strengthened my knowledge of, and experience with, mediation and arbitration. This will be invaluable as I attempt to become a part-time neutral after graduate school." Lipsky notes, "At any given time, we have a crew of graduate students and some undergraduates assisting us, particularly in research." Students also have the opportunity to take part in arbitration and mediation competitions. The institute runs its own intramurals, and last fall sponsored an eMediation competition that drew participants Another focus of the program is community outreach. "As president, I've tried to expand the Forensics Society's role in the community," says Ryan Yeh A&S; '13. During the fall semester, the program hosted public debates on hydrofracking, and the use of celebrity status to promote social causes. It also cosponsored a debate between former presidential candidates Howard Dean and Rick Santorum. Additionally, the society runs debate programs for incarcerated juveniles at the McCormick Secure Center and the Finger Lakes ADVANCE