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YSU students know how to make their point
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
You don’t want to argue with Youngstown State University students Andrik Massaro, Jacob Shriner-Briggs, Jillian Smith or Michael Marshall.
In teams of two, they advanced to compete last month at the national intercollegiate moot-court competition at California State University at Long Beach.
“Only about 80 teams qualified for the national tournament out of about 400,” said Paul Sracic, YSU’s moot-court coach, professor and chairman of the politics and international relations department. “Just qualifying for the national tournament is an accomplishment.”
The Massaro and Shriner-Briggs team made it to the top eight. Individually, Massaro finished 15th, and Shriner-Briggs was third.
In moot court, students learn and argue either the appellant or the respondent side of an actual U.S. Supreme Court case. Each year, the case involves two constitutional questions. This year, those questions centered on the First and Fifth Amendments.
The students began preparing last May for the competitions. They read about 20 cases to become versed in all of the arguments.
It’s demanding.
“I would say we probably put in at least 15 hours per week,” said Shriner-Briggs, of Austintown. “That’s probably a conservative estimate.”
Team members also met weekly throughout the summer.
In competition, the teams are pitted against others, and each presents one of the sides of the case. Next comes questioning from the judges.
Massaro said that’s the most-challenging part.
To help prepare, they work with attorneys and judges who pepper them with questions leading up to competition.
They don’t go easy, the students said.
Sracic attributes the teams’ success to that preparation.
He listed Judges Gene Donofrio and Mary DeGenaro of the 7th District Court of Appeals, as well as Ron Slipski and Rob Budinsky, a staff attorney and retired court administrator, respectively; J. Dean Carro, a University of Akron law professor; Atty. Megan Millich; Marla Carano of YSU; and Travis Watson, a UA law student and YSU moot court alum.
“That really gives us the advantage,” Sracic said.
All of the team members say moot court helps bolster their confidence and prepare them for their futures. All four plan to go to law school, but though the young men all plan to practice law, Smith envisions a career creating public policy.
All of the students competed on speech and debate teams in their respective high schools – Shriner-Briggs at Liberty, Marshall at Boardman and Massaro at Canfield, all in debate; and Smith in humorous interpretation at Canfield.
In fact, after he graduated from high school, Shriner-Briggs coached debate at Canfield, and Massaro was one of his team members.
Besides presenting and defending a case, judges evaluate contestants’ courtroom demeanor.
They look for professionalism and a conversational style.
Marshall learned to convey his passion for an argument while maintaining courtroom etiquette. Notes from a judge early in the season commented that he looked like he wanted to throw something.
Last month’s contest marked the third time Shriner-Briggs and Massaro have competed at the national event and the first for Smith and Marshall.
Shriner-Briggs isn’t sure if he’ll return next season, but the other three say they plan on it.
Massaro has his sights set high.
“I want to win nationals,” he said.