YSU Ethics Bowl Team Participates in The Great Debate

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Three members of Youngstown State University’s ethics bowl team participated in The Great Debate, an invitational event hosted by The Center for Practical Ethics at the University of Mississippi. 

Students Brandon Tabak, Sofia Myers and Peyton Hodge and their faculty advisors, Alan Tomhave, associate dean and professor of philosophy, and Mark Vopat, distinguished professor of philosophy and director of the Dr. James Dale Ethics Center, traveled to Mississippi for the March 25 event.

The Great Debate fosters civil discourse by having teams respond to pressing ethical dilemmas. Each year, expert panelists probe teams with questions from their disciplines to encourage thoughtful discussion. The event aims to promote intellectual humility, ethical reflection and respectful public discourse. 

This year, YSU was the only team invited to participate alongside the University of Mississippi team.

Tabak, Myers and Hodge represented YSU in a discussion addressing the ethical question: “Morally speaking, should parents face criminal charges if their children commit mass shootings?” They presented a range of moral considerations and proposed potential solutions before engaging in dialogue with an expert panel and the audience.

Pictured at top: YSU’s Ethics Bowl team.