Georgia Southern Ethics Bowl staff rising to nationwide prominence

April 23, 2025

In simply two years, Georgia Southern College’s Ethics Bowl staff has grow to be nationally aggressive, incomes a high 15 end and the Bob Ladenson Spirit Award on the APPE Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl earlier this semester. Amongst almost 40 groups, they stood out for his or her sturdy case engagement, respectful competitors and embodiment of the occasion’s spirit.

Georgia Southern’s Ethics Bowl staff coach, Paul Tubig, Ph.D., has seen the staff evolve since its creation by 4 formidable philosophy college students in 2023 right into a staff of 12 college students, sturdy sufficient to carry their very own on the most important stage of their area. 

“For us to succeed in the nationwide competitors within the second yr is de facto spectacular,” stated Tubig. “One coach stated that we have been essentially the most spectacular first-timers they’ve seen. Of their 10 years of teaching ethics bowls, they have been solely capable of attain the nationwide competitors as soon as.”

Ethics Bowl competitions problem college students to investigate and talk about modern moral dilemmas, whereas emphasizing open-minded discourse, reasoned argumentation and collaboration. Groups should put together responses and shows to 17 potential moral circumstances earlier than every competitors, overlaying points that vary from the ethics of household vlogging to the ethical accountability of oldsters at school shootings.

Throughout the competitions, a staff has to contemplate a variety of angles to method a subject in addition to make a concise case. A energy of the Georgia Southern staff lies within the numerous group of majors in comparison with many different groups, that are sometimes made up of primarily philosophy or political science majors.

Logan Collins is the president of the staff and an anthropology junior with a public well being minor. She stated the staff’s wide selection in backgrounds makes the staff stronger.

“Now we have people who find themselves ready to reply analytical questions,” stated Collins. “Now we have people who find themselves ready to have sensible information and sensible software of a few of these theories as nicely.”

Collins first joined the staff after a stint with the College’s Mannequin United Nations staff, which additionally efficiently participates in  common nationwide recognition. Whereas some members like her joined the staff for the character of the competitions, others joined to develop particular expertise for careers exterior of public coverage.

The staff’s vp is Cade Huff, a double main in electrical engineering and philosophy. Intrigued by the competitors fashion, Huff additionally desires to develop stronger communication, interpersonal and presentation expertise for his future profession in electrical engineering.

“The place I labored over the summer season as an intern, I needed to talk with lots of completely different contractors,” he stated. “The method of communication in itself turns into a public talking occasion in lots of circumstances. Should you’re giving a presentation or assembly face-to-face with completely different folks within the area, you may have to have the ability to talk clearly and successfully. Ethics Bowl helps me try this.”

With the staff’s current success, Tubig stated he expects so as to add one other staff for future nationwide competitions. For info on the staff and different pupil organizations in Philosophy and Spiritual Research, go to this webpage.