Dear Mock Trial teachers, coaches and participants
Our plan at the beginning of this Mock Trial season was to offer a live competition experience for our hard-working students this year. In October, and even early November, we felt confident we could provide that. Unfortunately, as we have seen with the pandemic from its beginning days, things do change quickly from month to month, week to week, and day to day. In response to Liz Jones’ inquiry this week, a large majority of you expressed concern with going forward with a live format while, on the other hand, some felt comfortable with doing so. With the exponential contagiousness and rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, and with forecasts from NCDHHS and the CDC of infections peaking in North Carolina in and around early to mid-February, the NCMTP Board unanimously decided this morning to pivot to remote regional competitions across North Carolina on Saturday, February 5.
This decision to go remote is made not only to protect the health and well-being of our participants and many volunteers, it is just as importantly based upon the practicality and reality that should we move forward with a live competition in this setting it would be at our peril with participants and volunteers potentially withdrawing in weeks leading up to and in the days and hours before the competition due to exposures and illness, and, potentially, losing courthouse facilities as we move closer to the event. Going remote for our regional competitions is the only way to ensure that all of the hard work our students have put in comes to fruition with an actual competition without the risk of last-minute cancellation. The NCMTP Board will determine the format for State Finals scheduled for March 18 and 19 after regionals has been completed, when we can determine the status of infection rates and confirm the continued availability of facilities.
To continue to read this letter from Rebecca Britton, President, North Carolina Mock Trial Program, click here.
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