Randolph students to debate ethics and artificial intelligence during annual VFIC Ethics Bowl

Students from Randolph College will compete in the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges’ (VFIC) 25th annual statewide collegiate Ethics Bowl this week. 

Jordyn Shumpert ’25, Elizabeth Bailey ’25, Ranay Bingham ’25, and Brandon Castro-Pruett ’27 will debate case studies relating to the theme Ethics and Artificial Intelligence on Feb. 7 at the University of Richmond. 

Randolph’s team is led by faculty coordinator and comparative philosophy professor Kaija Mortensen. 

The Ethics Bowl program was conceptualized to involve students at VFIC colleges and universities in the debate and consideration of applied ethics—real-world dilemmas that affect people’s lives in increasingly complex ways.

The first competition focused on ethics and technology. Since then, topics have ranged from healthcare, education, and business to social justice, politics, and civic responsibility.

The competition will begin with an opening session on Friday, February 7, at 10:30 a.m. in the University of Richmond’s Ukrop Auditorium, with the first round scheduled for 11 a.m. in various rooms in the Robins School of Business. 

Rounds 2 through 4 begin at 2 p.m. and conclude at 4:45 p.m., followed by the championship round at 6 p.m. in the Jepson Alumni Center’s Robins Pavilion. 

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, Mary Baldwin University, Marymount University, Randolph College, Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke College, Shenandoah University, Sweet Briar College, University of Lynchburg, University of Richmond, Virginia Wesleyan University, and Washington & Lee University.