Randolph students to debate ‘Ethics and Civic Responsibility’

Randolph College’s 2015 Ethics Bowl team placed second in the statewide competition.

Six students from Randolph College will compete in the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) 17th annual statewide collegiate Wells Fargo Ethics Bowl, Jan. 31-Feb. 1 on the campus of Hollins University in Roanoke.

The Randolph College team will go head-to-head against other student teams from Virginia’s 15 leading independent colleges and universities, debating a variety of case studies highlighting ethical dilemmas. The members of Randolph’s team are Grace Cummins ’16, Donald Saltmarsh ’16, Tahan Menon ’16, Kati Biggs ’18, Igor Ngabo Rwaka ’18, and Jordann Pruitt ’19. The faculty coordinators are philosophy professor Kaija Mortensen and physics and environmental studies professor Sarah Sojka.

Notable personalities from business, law, education, finance, journalism, and other fields will listen to team presentations and offer reactions to the students’ presentations.

The Ethics Bowl program begins on Sunday, Jan. 31, at 2:30 p.m. at Hollins University’s Dana Science Building, in the Babcock Auditorium, with the first matches scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in various classrooms throughout the Moody Center and the Dana Science Building. On Monday, February 1, rounds 3 and 4 will begin at 8:45 a.m. The final round of competition will take place at 11:15 a.m. in the Babcock Auditorium. The public is invited to attend match sessions free of charge. The winning team will be announced at 12:30 p.m. on Monday.

Randolph placed second in the 2015 Ethics Bowl behind first-placed Washington & Lee University, which has won the annual competition five times in its 15-year history.

Founded in 1952, the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges is a nonprofit fundraising partnership supporting the programs and students of 15 leading independent colleges in the Commonwealth: Bridgewater College, Emory & Henry College, Hampden-Sydney College, Hollins University, Lynchburg College, Mary Baldwin College, Marymount University, Randolph College, Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke College, Shenandoah University, Sweet Briar College, University of Richmond, Virginia Wesleyan College, and Washington & Lee University. For additional information on the VFIC, visit www.vfic.org

In preparation for the 2016 Ethics Bowl this weekend, Randolph’s team participated in an exhibition debate Tuesday night at Lynchburg College. Read more at http://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/college-students-debate-the-right-thing-in-ethics-bowl/article_1bd753af-ed8e-539b-b632-81acce9ec389.html