BUIES CREEK – The Campbell University Ethics Bowl debate team hosted Montreat College on Nov. 5, for a mock ethics debate.
In preparation for two upcoming ethics debate competitions, Campbell spent that Saturday sparring and honing skills with the debate team from Montreat College, located in the Blue Ridge portion of North Carolina.
The five Campbell students competing on this year’s team are senior biology major Ben Dyer, junior education major Danielle Hall, sophomore business major Peter Newby, junior religion major Lindsey White and senior Christian ministry major Chris Wilson. Dr. Adam English and Dr.
Ken Vandergriff, both of the Department of Religion and Philosophy, have coached the team since 2007.
The team is preparing for two other debate competitions, one in November at the University of Baltimore and one in February at Meredith College. According to Dr. Vandergriff, what makes these debate competitions unique is their focus on moral reasoning.
“They involve more than argumentation,” he said. “The students must provide moral justification and ethical theory.”
The Ethics Bowl has created a number of opportunities for inter-collegiate exchanges and friendships, Dr. English said.
“The mock debate with Montreat College is just one example of how the Ethics Bowl competitions are bringing students together from across different colleges,” he said.