Students represent Ripon in Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl competition

Five students represented Ripon College in the 21st Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl competition this past Sunday, Feb. 26, in Dallas, Texas. The Ripon team comprised senior Zachary Matson, juniors Lauren Hince, Erika Isaacson and DeLou Wilson, and sophomore Wyatt McGillen.

The competition was held as part of the Association of Practical and Professional Ethics 26th annual conference.

Ripon was pitted against teams from the U.S. Military Academy, Tufts University and defending champions Whitworth University. Ripon defeated Tufts, but lost to Whitworth and the eventual 2017 champs from the Military Academy.

Teams debated the following issues: NCAA paying players; burning of ivory; no-kill shelter policies; trigger warnings in college classrooms; drugs used in the death penalty; and litigation financing.

“While Ripon College did not win the national tournament they placed very well (final standings have not yet been released),” said Assistant Dean of Career and Professional Development Lindsay Blumer who advises the team and traveled with them to Dallas. “Our students represented Ripon with grace, integrity and strength.” Blumer said many coaches and teams from around the country made a point to come up to the Ripon College team and congratulate them on their ethical reasoning, their competitive spirit and sense of humor.  “They often encountered faculty members and ethics professionals who knew Ripon by the excellent reputation of the team,” she said.