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Join WMU's Ethics Bowl team

April 8, 2010

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University is recruiting students for its Ethics Bowl team. The application deadline is Friday, April 16; tryouts will be held Friday, April 23.

Apply now
Downloadable application (Word)

Ethics Bowl provides students with an opportunity to practice applying the moral theories and argumentation principles they learn in class. In advance of competition, each team receives about 15 case studies involving ethical issues in a number of practical contexts, including engineering, law, medicine, personal relationships, school and politics. During a round, each team takes turns presenting its position on a case and critiquing another team's position on a different case. Teams must answer questions about their positions from a panel of judges. Judges assign scores based on logical consistency, clarity, focus and thoroughness.

Gaining a spot on the WMU's Ethics Bowl team involves a commitment to meet twice a week for about two hours beginning in mid-September until the regional competition in mid-November. If the team advances to the national championship in March, it will have a similar meeting schedule in January and February. Being selected to represent WMU in this competition requires regular attendance at these meetings, as well as independent work researching assigned cases and preparing the team's position on those cases.

Team members are eligible to sign up for one to two hours of independent study credit in philosophy in spring 2012. Preference will be given to applicants who have successfully completed an ethics course.

Applicant requirements

  • Be in good standing as a registered undergraduate student at WMU for fall 2010.
  • Be willing to spend time during the fall semester preparing for the regional qualifier.
  • Be available to travel to the contest in mid-November.
  • Be willing to spend time in January and February preparing for national championship.
  • Be available to travel to the national championship in March.

Download an application form from the ethics center Web site at wmich.edu/ethics, or contact Dr. Sandra L. Borden at sandra.borden@wmich.edu or (269) 387-0362.

For more information, visit the WMU Ethics Bowl team online.

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Media contact: Tonya Durlach, (269) 387-8400, tonya.durlach@wmich.edu

WMU News
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