By Virginia You
Staff Writer

Alcohol consumption by anyone under 21 is prohibited in the state of Indiana. During The 2000 Mock Trial Case in Loeb Playhouse Tuesday night, the Office of the Dean of Students presented a scenario where fictitious people played by Purdue students and actual Tippecanoe County lawyers and judge showed students what can happen if they don't follow the rules.

"Students need to know the consequences of their actions at a house or residence hall," said Jarod Overton, a senior in the school of liberal arts, whose character was given a guilty verdict. "Although (the mock trial) was not real, it puts a light on things. Everything can be going right one day and the next it can completely turn around."

The mock trial presented a mirror of a courtroom case, excluding the opening statements from the prosecutor, Kathy Grey of Tippecanoe County Prosecutors' Office, and the public defender, Amy Hutchinson from the Tippecanoe County Public Defenders' Office.

It was based on a fictitious event on April 2, 1999, at Spring Fling, a social event at Indiana College that ended with a freshman who ended up in a coma with serious wounds.

Under Judge Laura Zeman of the Tippecanoe County Court, two students were charged, leaving only one to be found guilty at the end of the trial.

A total of 229 people showed up for the mock trial that was prominently set up for people who put together and attend big house parties, such as Greek houses and cooperative housing, yet it was open to the public with the motive of giving students something to think about.

"I don't think that we can completely change everyone, but if we reach even a few students, then it's a success to us," said Brooke Devers, a junior in the school of education.

As a reminder at the end of the event, Tamara Rice, the assistant dean of students, gave advice to follow what is right.

"You just have to do the right thing," said Rice. "You may not be the popular one at the party, but you just have to go with your gut to do the right thing."