Manhattanville College Hosts Annual Ethics Bowl

PURCHASE, NY - February, 2023 – High School students from across the region gathered to answer some thorny ethical questions as part of the 8th Annual Ethics Bowl hosted by Manhattanville College.

Sponsored by the college’s philosophy program in cooperation with the Marshall Institute for Ethical Thought and Action, the regional bowl was held January 28. The competition pitted high school students from top-tier regional high schools including Arlington High School, Dover High School, Fairfield Preparatory, French-American School of NY, George F. Baker High School, The School of the Holy Child, John S. Burke Catholic High School, The Montfort Academy, Oakwood Friends School, Poughkeepsie High School, Salesian High School and Archbishop Stepinac High School.

Arlington High School in LaGrangeville, NY, placed first for the region followed by runner up Fairfield Preparatory in Connecticut.

Arlington will compete with two other schools in a play-off round on February 21 to determine who will compete at the National Level at UNC – Chapel Hill.

Beginning with breakfast and check-in at Manhattanville’s O’Byrne Chapel, the region’s best and brightest prepared themselves for a day of mental fortitude and battling of wits that lasted until the closing ceremonies at 5pm.

Manhattanville students, alumni, friends, and professors watched five rounds to determine the winning team. In addition to Manhattanville faculty and students, a unique roster of judges presided over the event, including an Assistant New York State Attorney General as well as a U.S. Appellate Court Judge.

Professor Siobhan Nash-Marshall, Ph.D., Manhattanville’s Mary T. Clark Chair of Christian Philosophy, said that the teams from across the country were presented with 20 ethical scenarios back in September to study that they had to discuss as part of the competition. During the competition teams are asked to come up with a solution and, more importantly, defend their position in an intelligent and logical fashion.

One case debated what responsibilities a man should have to his wife of 60 years who now suffered from Alzheimer’s disease even though he was in a new relationship. Another asked students to discuss whether artificial intelligence had feelings equal to those of human beings.

Nash-Marshall said that students were judged by whether they had captured the salient ethical issues and how clearly they stated their cases. The bowl is about the process. Although it is a competition, opposing teams work together to arrive at the truth, she said.

“It was wondrous to see the Castle [on campus] brimming with high school students, their coaches, and parents who were eager to tackle ethical problems,’’ she said. “I am grateful to the participants for their efforts and for their appreciation of the importance of clear thinking and ethical dialogue, two of the hallmarks of philosophy at Manhattanville.”

About Manhattanville College

Manhattanville College is a small, private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social justice. For two years in a row, the U.S. News and World Report has ranked Manhattanville the number one private, non-profit institution in New York among Top Performers of Social Mobility in Regional Universities North. Located 30 miles from New York City on a 100-acre suburban campus in the heart of Westchester County, Manhattanville enables easy access to entertainment offerings, educational resources, and business opportunities for its primarily residential and diverse student body. The college serves more than 1,500 undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students from more than 44 countries and 33 states. Founded in 1841, the college offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from over 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and 20 NCAA Division III teams.

Manhattanville has also been recognized by “U.S. News and World Report” for Ethnic Diversity. The college has earned a designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education which has allowed it to recruit more Latinx students. For the sixth consecutive year, Manhattanville has been named to the Colleges of Distinction list which recognizes colleges that excel in student engagement, great teaching, vibrant communities, and successful outcomes. This year, the college is also among those that have earned the Equity and Inclusion badge from Colleges of Distinction, while continuing to be recognized for excellence with Business, Education, and Career Development badges. The school is also one of the few to offer an undergraduate certificate in design thinking, giving students a leg up with employers looking for critical thinking skills.

To learn more, visit www.mville.edu.

Contact:

Cara Cea, cara.cea@mville.edu, 914-323-1278 or 914-906-9680.

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