Submitted Photo
The Oklahoma Christian University Eagles managed to secure a top place finish for the second year in a row at the OK Ethics Statewide Student Ethics Challenge on Saturday, Oct. 19. The team is currently preparing for the regional competition in November.
The competition was hosted at Oklahoma City University Meinders School of Business. The Oklahoma Christian Eagles argued and analyzed up to nine diverse cases dealing with issues such as HIV and allowing black nurses to be removed from duty.
Junior Jasper Bawcom participated on the ethics team for his first time this year and faced a unique set of challenges.
“For me it was difficult keeping my thoughts and ideas organized when presenting my arguments,” Bawcom said.
According to the participants, the amount of preparation that goes into the competitions can be extensive and stressful.
“We aren’t allowed to bring any notes into the competition, so everything we say is essentially from memory,” Bawcom said. “I have a strong team backing me up and helping me, though, so even if I forget something, they usually remember.”
The university has two separate teams, the Talons and the Eagles.
During competition, Oklahoma Christian’s first-place team ‘The Talons’ succeeded over veteran debate teams from Rose State College, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.
The teams were given different scenarios and were asked to analyze facts, news stories and domestic and international posturing issues.
One of the prompts had to do with the Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Mich. On Halloween 2012, a man asked hospital staff at the medical center to ensure that a black nurse, Tonya Battle, not touch his newborn baby. Mary Osika, the director over the nurses, made the decision to comply with the father’s request and kept the nurse away in an attempt to ensure that the child was able to receive medical care.
The story of Tonya Battle is one example of the topics designed to provide an academic experience that increases awareness about applying ethics in leadership, decision-making, interpersonal relationships and other issues presented in today’s society.
“We divide various ethical philosophies amongst the team, and I was given the philosophy of deontology, which in short is the study of people’s rights and duties during ethical situations,” senior Ryan Fuller said.
While others might find this type of discussion boring, Fuller and his teammates relish in the knowledge.
“I enjoy it because it considers the perspectives of all parties in the case and is very helpful when coming up with a solution that is best for everyone involved,” Fuller said.
Being prepared for this competition was not an easy task; the team has been working countless hours and sharpening their minds while also building friendships.
Sophomore Gabriel Gasiorowski joined the team looking for the academic benefits, but found much more.
“I originally tried out for the team with the intent of gaining skills in debate as well as furthering my self-discipline,” Gasiorowski said. “So far, working with my teammates and committing to regular practices … have accomplished just what I set out to do. The friendships forged through our efforts as a team have been invaluable to me as well.”
“All six of us on OC’s two teams have been working together on the cases all term, and we have worked together to figure out the strongest arguments for each case,” Bawcom said.
Most squads are focused on dividing as much of the responsibility as possible, but the Eagles have a different way of handling things.
“This is different than the way some other teams work with the cases,” Bawcom said. “Often they will divide up the cases between the team members, so that each member is an ‘expert’ on a few cases. By working on the cases together as a team, OC’s teams have more than one perspective on each case, and our arguments are strengthened because of this.”
The Eagles are looking forward to their next stop in San Antonio for their regional competition. Not only are they determined to work on their intellect but also on their attitudes.
“Humbling ourselves with further practice and honing and augmenting our arguments for each case, we will have to debate in preparation for regionals,” Gasiorowski said. “We’re setting our sights high for the next competition; as such we are now putting out the effort to reach those expectations. I believe the key to this next step is to avoid the potential hot-headedness that can come from sweeping the last event and recognizing where we, as a team, can improve.”
0
0
Be First to Comment