Join the Ethics Bowl: A Path to Debate, Skill, and Diversity

Let's talk about the Ethics Bowl competition. What exactly is it? Well, it's organized by the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics every Fall, and here's how it goes: students receive a set of short case studies at the beginning of September. They then have about six weeks to dive into each case, doing research and preparing for a persuasive speech competition. Despite its reputation as a "Business Ethics" event, the cases cover a wide range of subjects beyond just business. Each case presents an ethical dilemma, some real-life and some hypothetical, and they cover topics like medicine, science, politics, and more.

Now, this isn't your typical debate, as teams aren’t assigned a position (in debate they would call it affirmative or negative). Instead, team members work collaboratively to determine their position. You can even agree with the other team! The first event happens in mid-October at the State level, followed by a Regional level competition in mid-November. Fun fact: in 2022, NSU hosted one of these competitions. 

So, what's the toughest part of the competition? According to Professor Vickers, it's the recruiting process. While they do find great team members, they often join in their Junior or Senior years, leaving only 1-2 years of eligibility. As for the competitors, the real challenge is navigating differing opinions on what's right or wrong. It's not always black and white, and team members often find their opinions evolving as they delve deeper into a case.

If you're interested in joining the team, here's what you need to know: There are up to 10 spots available, and recruitment usually kicks off in the Spring at various NSU events. Any undergraduate student can participate, regardless of their major. In fact, the more diverse the team in terms of majors, the better and more well-rounded they’ll be. Plus, here's a bonus: participants can earn three hours of course credit by enrolling in the Ethics Practicum course.

So, whether you're into debate, want to boost skills valued by employers and grad schools, or just love good competition, reach out to team coach Brian Vickers at vickersb@nsuok.edu. He's on the lookout for new team members now, and you might just be a perfect fit!