Ethics Bowl hones civility for students

The University of North Georgia (UNG) Ethics Bowl team was one of 36 teams to compete at the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl nationals in late February in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The team lost by one point in the first round to Oakland University from Michigan, earned a second-round victory by three points over Seattle University, and tied with Georgia Tech in the third round. Round four was a defeat to William & Mary, by four points.

"We were close, but Georgia Tech had a win in their first round so Georgia Tech moved on to the quarterfinals. It goes by wins/ties/losses and then to points, if needed," Dr. Rose Procter, executive director of UNG's TRUIST Center for Ethical Leadership, said.

Procter and Dr. James Grindeland, lecturer of philosophy, serve as the team's coaches.   

"We were thrilled to make it to nationals now two years in a row and make UNG known," Procter said. Team Captain Daniel Yarman reflected on the team's experience.

"I am very happy with our performance in both regionals and nationals. Most of our team were first-year team members, and they performed well in both regionals and nationals," Yarman said.

The Monroe, Georgia, resident added that he felt the experience has helped everyone on the team gain more confidence, see issues more broadly and learn how to work as a team with people who may have differences in opinion and beliefs from each other.

"That to me is the great success of our team: the growth and friendships we made with each other and the growth as individuals through this experience," Yarman said. "Jessica Kagansky, Elina Posey, Elizabeth Johnson and Bryant Singleton have been wonderful teammates and people to get to know throughout this experience, and this team would not be what it is without each of them."

Yarman is a nontraditional sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in management and a minor in philosophy. He has been involved with the Ethics Bowl since 2022.

Kagansky, a junior, from Dacula, Georgia, pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies, described the experience as rewarding.

"This was the second time I'd been to nationals, so I was more prepared for the competition. I expected it would be difficult, and it was. Competing in the rounds was still intimidating. It was also a rewarding experience," she said. 

Although intimidating, the experience will help the nontraditional student fulfill her career goals in risk management as it has helped polish her public speaking skills.

"Participating in Ethics Bowl was an opportunity to open my mind to different perspectives and differing opinions in a respectful environment. Our society seems to have lost the tone of civility that used to be present when discussing opposing viewpoints; the Ethics Bowl competition allows us to participate in respectful conversations about nuanced and complex topics without the hostility that exists in those conversations elsewhere," she said.   

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl competition is scheduled to take place this year on the UNG Gainesville campus on Saturday, November 9, 2024. Dr. Procter will be recruiting volunteers and Judges, if interested.