Salem students will once again compete in the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities' (NCICU) state Ethics Bowl. This year's competition, held Feb. 8-9 at Campbell University School of Law in Raleigh, will focus on ethics in communication.

Students Heather McCracken, Jill Slinger, Jacque Phillips, Megan Taylor, Lindsey Carr and Melina Alejos, along with faculty adviser Alyson Francisco and professional adviser Beth Gianopulos C'01 will represent Salem at the event.

Teams from 18 independent colleges and universities from across the state will compete in four rounds of debate on Friday and Saturday. The debates will be scored by a panel of three judges that include business and community leaders from across the state. The teams will be evaluated on the quality of their argument, research, presentation style and moral theory. Each round will be facilitated by moderators who also are business and community leaders in North Carolina.

The NCICU Ethics Bowl is designed to provide an academic experience which increases awareness and discourse among students from NCICU colleges and universities and area business and community leaders about applying ethics in leadership, decision-making, interpersonal relationships and other issues in today’s society. NCICU chose the theme “Ethics in Communications” to help encourage a sense of social responsibility and accountability among students at independent colleges and universities. The purpose of the competition is to emphasize the importance of being able to apply ethical standards to situations students inevitably will face as future local, state and national leaders. 

NCICU is comprised of North Carolina's 36 private, non-profit liberal arts, comprehensive and research colleges and universities accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. NCICU represents independent higher education in the areas of state and federal public policy and on education issues with the other sectors of education in the state. It also provides research and information to and about private colleges and universities, conducts staff development opportunities and coordinates collaborative programs.