Randolph students engage in political debates at VFIC Ethics Bowl

2017 Randolph College VFIC Ethics Bowl team (from left): philosophy professor Kaija Mortensen, Katya Schwab ’17, Christian Ridenour ’18, political science professor Vincent Vecera, and Danish Roshan ’18

A team of Randolph College students traveled to Virginia Wesleyan College this weekend to debate issues of “U.S. Presidential Election Politics” in the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges’ (VFIC) 18th annual statewide collegiate Wells Fargo Ethics Bowl.

Randolph’s team, which consisted of Katya Schwab ’17, Danish Roshan ’18, and Christian Ridenour ’18, competed against teams from 15 leading independent colleges and universities across the state and deliberated issues such as ethical obligations of campaign staff, presidential candidates, and delegates when faced with conflicts between personal and political commitments. Philosophy professor Kaija Mortensen and political science professor Vincent Vecera served as the Randolph team’s faculty coordinators.

(From left) Christian Ridenour ’18, Danish Roshan ’18, and Katya Schwab ’17 deliberate during the 2017 VFIC Ethics Bowl.

“Our team was able to argue persuasively about the values of loyalty, honest, and transparency while defending principles of representative democracy, free and fair elections, and the role of the president as both a leader and a citizen,” Mortensen said. “During the competition, judges praised our team for their consistent commitment to their positions, their teamwork, and their ability to use the question and answer section of the debate to thoughtfully critique the position of their opponents while simultaneously defending their own.”

Randolph went head-to-head versus teams from Randolph-Macon College, Shenandoah University, Hollins University, and Bridgewater College, and the judges were split in their decisions about all four debates. Hampden-Sydney College was the overall winner of the 2017 Ethics Bowl.

Mortensen said each member of Randolph’s team contributed and was recognized for his or her unique skills. Ridenour, a political science major, was praised by the judges for his effective strategy of using rhetorical questions to engage the audience and focus their attention on the key points of the argument. Roshan, an economics, economics, and mathematics triple major, excelled at asking the other teams’ members incisive, challenging questions about their arguments. And Schwab, a philosophy and communication studies double major, was also praised for consistently and confidently articulating solid arguments founded on meaningful ethical principles.

Mortenson said preparing for the Ethics Bowl gave the students an extended opportunity to develop both their public speaking skills and their ability to construct and analyze arguments.

“The Ethics Bowl grants students the opportunity to learn how to civilly discuss ethical issues with others and work together under time pressure to defend their principles and values,” Mortensen said. “This experience also helps students better recognize the ethical stakes and consequences of the actions of others as well as their own.

“They have the opportunity to represent Randolph College and network with students, faculty, and business leaders from around Virginia. This experience helps students think critically about institutional assumptions and gain sensitivity to the different modes of discourse that are appropriate in different settings.”

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.