Salem College came out the victor over Meredith College in North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities’ Ethics Bowl. This was the first time that two women’s colleges have faced each other in the finals. The topic for the final round centered around corporate ethics and international conflicts. The teams were asked “Do U.S. companies have an ethical obligation to withdraw their operations from countries that repress their citizen’s human rights?”

In the semifinal round, Meredith faced Chowan University and Salem faced Montreat College. The topic for that round focused on how the law deals with bullies asking the question, should there be a law to regulate cyber-bullying.

Salem’s Debate team met with 21 other private colleges to participate in North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities’ Ethics Bowl February 17 and 18. The annual event was held at the Legislative Complex in Raleigh. 

”These women have been working extremely long hours, beyond their normal academic schedule to compete in this year bowl,” said Alyson Francisco, Mary Ardrey Stough Kimbrough Chair in Business and Economics and Director of the Center for Women in Business.

This year’s team includes:

• Semi Revis-Rangel - Senior International Business and Spanish
• Katie Hilderbrand - Senior Biology and Sociology
• Maria Ramirez Perez - Senior Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Rebecca Sharp - Senior Biochemistry and Psychology
• Mara Dygert - Junior Political Science and Religion

Teams participated in three rounds of debate on Friday and one round on Saturday, followed by semifinal and final rounds. 

“Student participants consistently extol the educational and professional development value of the Ethic Bowl,” said NCICU President Hope Williams. “Team members spend months researching and preparing to argue the ethical path forward on these issues.” 

Other participating colleges included: Barton College, Campbell University, Catawba College, Chowan University, Gardner-Webb University, High Point University, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, Louisburg College, Mars Hill University, Meredith College, Methodist University, Montreat College, North Carolina Wesleyan College, Pfeiffer University, Queens University of Charlotte, St. Andrews University, Saint Augustine’s University, University of Mount Olive, Wake Forest University and Wingate University. 

PAST SALEM TEAMS