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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 31, 1984)
dUms'iiiee (ceMto'joMs 'dUsprnMioig parties By St&cie Tlioraas Roommate squabbles, landlord-tenant disputes and neighborhood arguments don't have to lead to legal battles. Now, they may lead to the Lincoln Neigh borhood Justice Center, 3601 Calvert St. . The center provides mediators free of charge to help disputing parties communicate through mediation. The mediators aren't counselors, center director Rebecca Winston said. They dont tell clients how to solve problems nor do they make value judgments be solved through better communica tion, she said. The center has operated for years and claims a 75 percent success rate. It has handled about 150 cases. Winston said some problems only require a phone call to solve. Here's how. After the center is contacted by 'one of the disputing people, a media tor calls the other person and restates the dispute from the perspective of the first person. The mediator then asks if the ether person agrees or disagrees and if there is the possibility of reconci liation. Once the case h&3 been restated by lit U .Sr I HJi., O l Crlg AndrsnDal!y Ncbrcskan Becky Winston at the Neighborhood Justice Center. about who is right, Winston said. "Our society has been so geared toward having someone else solve our problems," Winston sid. "The Justice Center is basically a place to learn to solve our own problems." According to Winston, most people learn early to rely on others to solve problems for them. When a mother separates two arguing children and forbids them to speak, she is teaching them to avoid working out their own problems, Winston said. This lesson has caused many to resort to the judicial system to solve every day problems which could easily the mediator, the people may be able to solve the dispute simply because the phone call opens communication lines. Winston said the people most likely either have been yelling or not talking at all. "When you've been yelling or not talking, you're not working toward a solution," she said. If the people still are unable to agree on a resolution, the mediator asks if they are interested in mediation at the center. During the mediation process, the clients discuss the dispute in person while the mediator looks for common ground. High 'blood pressure.- Treat it and Ike. ft American Hear? Association WE'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE r-1 xjr a a i in v si f "A Frank Vie Ccn All Afford" v .. s, as am berry, & Butterscotch. Uy zJzJ U bilUVi Dcrciwc 1 prps THKPN Riff bwi.i- .. tim ii w ftiiiiin n v: i a 6 L v. . a "Yj Quart of Brewed tee Tea, 0 j I Lemonade, or Coke. I J- .Hayo You Tried Oup Wcvj Gcmcs?. . Gpy Iluntcr o EsiotiH Dcrto o Cccsbsil HOURS: Sun.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 9 a.m.-Midnight - ! The clients then work toward a reso lution with the mediator going back and forth between them until the reso lution 13 acceptable to both parties. Ordinarily this process takes two to three hours, Winston said. Once the parties agree to a resolu tion, it' is written down and signed. Winston said she thinks signing the resolution also gives each person a possessory interest. "When you own or possess some thing, you generally want to follow through with it," she said. This is the reason for our success rate." The mediators periodically check with their clients to make sure the resolution was successful If the resolution failed, the center offers to mediate again, although only about 20 percent of the failed cases will be remediate, Winston said. The others are referred to lawyers, small claims court or other agencies. Winston, who also maintains a pri vate law practice, said she receives $150 per month for her expenses. She said she takes each call, reviews every case and assigns mediators to them, and handles most of the center's paperwork. All other workers at the center are volunteers and the center is supported entirely by donations. Rhonda Kenney has been working a3 a mediator for two years. Kenney, a senior criminal justice m?jor at UNL, sid she became involved with the cen ter when she was looking for prac tical experience in her major. . Working as a mediator has given her an understanding of what bothers people and the different leveb of hostility, Kenney said. Mediators receive a total of 16 to 18 hours of instruction in safety techniques, techniques for reducing hostility bet ween people and stress management, Winston said. . The center also has a special pro gram to help juveniles make restitu tion to victims for vandalism and mis demeanor criminal mischief. Winston said the center tries to make sure juveniles more aware that the victims actually lost something. It may also help the victims deal with any hostility or fear resulting from the crime. "It doesn't make the victims whole, but it helps," Winston said. "It makes the victims know the system is actually starting to work for them." For those who value beauty: this is an ideal cut diamond. sum vTlT T .W mm J-7 re o it JEWELERS "The Bright Idea" 13th &P St. Lincoln, Nebraska 68508 I ma I S3 I' :LyLj J ZA C3 COOL OFF WITH AN AIR CONDITIONER FOR JUST PENNIES A DAY AT ACE RENT-TO-OWN! (Rent by the month or on a summer basis) ALSO A COMPLETE STOCK OF FURNITURE, TV'S, APPLIANCES, STEREOS AND VIDEO RECORDERS AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL NOW! l ruscfaJu31,1984 Doily Nobroskon Page 3