ACCD News & Events

NVC Students Tackle Ethical Issues at Ethics Bowl

For Immediate Release
November 22, 2005
Contact: Maureen Smith, Public Information Officer, Northwest Vista College
210-348-2011 m
msmith@accd.edusmith@accd.edu

On Saturday, November 12, Northwest Vista College students participated in the eighth annual South Central Texas regional Ethics Bowl, an annual competition in which colleges and universities across Texas debate about ethical issues. The event was hosted by St. Mary's University, and marked the first year that NVC students participated.

At the Ethics Bowl, each team consists of three to five students, who use research and discussion to propose a resolution to an ethical problem. Each school has the same seven cases that they must address. This year, the cases involved genetically modified foods, workplace romances, testing pesticides on human subjects, eminent domain, parental monitoring of teenager's buying and eating habits, business ethics and the lack of healthcare insurance in the U.S.

There were three rounds of debates covering six of the cases. Each school was given ten minutes to present their position on a case, and the opposing school had five minutes to respond, and vice versa.

Northwest Vista College won two out of the three rounds and placed sixth out of 18 participating teams. NVC was also the top-rated community college in the event.

"Our students were successful because they learned to incorporate the facts and values of the cases and to clearly present their views in a challenging environment," explains philosophy instructor Charles Hinkley, who coached the NVC team.