Steroids, Professional Sports, and Getting Ahead
Wednesday, February 16th, 7:30 PM, PAC 134
Red State/Blue State: How Can We Talk to Each Other?Barry Bonds allegedly used them. Jason Giambi admitted to using them. Arguably, they played a significant role in their illustrious rise to baseball super-stardom. But are steroids safe? And is their use fair in professional sports? The legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi, reportedly said that “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” What ought we to make of such a sentiment? Should professional athletes try to win at all costs, or should there be ethical constraints in professional sports that would, among other things, curtail the use of chemical substances which give users a significant advantage over their competition? Finally, what implications does steroid use in professional sports have for the business world in general? Should professional athletes be considered role models in society? How do we weigh the value of personal freedom against the value of preserving fair competition among rivals?
Andrew Flescher, Director for Center Applied and Professional Ethics (moderating)
Donald Chu, Department of Kinesiology
Robert Cottrell, Department of History
Marcel Daguerre, Department of Philosophy
Dave Casper, Former Tight End of the Oakland Raiders and Football Hall of Fame Inductee
Following the presidential election last fall, we are arguably a more polarized nation than ever before. What does this say about our ability to talk to one another about matters of great political and moral significance? Has rational discourse between subscribers of differing view points become all but a myth in America? Can we still persuade others to new ways of thinking in genuine dialogue? Can a “red state” person even talk with a “blue state” person about issues of meaningful significance? This forum addresses the “ Red State” vs. “ Blue State” phenomenon constructively, and with an eye towards a discussion of “moral values,” on which the recent election supposedly turned. What are “moral values” and why were they so important in election ’04? Are there any values that all Americans hold fundamental by virtue of their being American? Is the separation of church and state something rightly to be regarded as sacred? Alternatively, is there value in having a large Christian state? What is the most productive way for regular Americans, who do not immediately agree with one another about the nature and importance of religious devotion, to talk about such matters thoughtfully and respectfully?
Joel Zimbelman, Chair, Department of Religious Studies (moderating)
Dan Herbert, Businessman, City Council Member, Former Mayor of Chico
Father Peter Hansen, Rector, St. Augustine Anglican Church
Lin Jensen, Founder and Teacher Emeritus, Chico Zen Sangha
Laurel Blankinship, Host of Peace and Justice Program, KZFR
Ivory Tower or Diploma Mill? The Purpose and Ethics of Higher Education
Wednesday, April 6th, 7:30 PM, PAC 134
Outsourced and Out-Performed: Will Globalization and Free Trade Destroy the U.S. Work Force?What is the purpose of higher education? Is a college degree essentially an economic credential, the hoop through which one must jump in order to position oneself to be gainfully employed? Is “learning for learning’s sake” a myth propagated by professors, administrators and students who wish to hide away from society in the proverbial “ivory towers?” Or, is higher education something that indeed does have intrinsic merit, one best not corrupted by corporate influence of any sort? Who deserves to get a degree? Are our tax dollars being used justly in terms of the distribution of resources for higher education? Finally, how does the purpose of higher education bear on the evaluation process? Is it right for professors to be considered the “gatekeepers” of higher education, entrusted to maintain standards by withholding degrees from students who do not perform at high levels? How do professors grade? How should they grade?
Andrew Flescher, Director, Center for Applied and Professional Ethics (moderating)
Paula Selvester, Department of Education
William Rich, Department of Education
Eric Gampel, Department of Philosophy
Adam Dondro, President, Associated Students
Douglas Ierley, attorney in the International Trade Practice Group of King & Spalding LLP ( Washington, DC)
What is “globalization” and what is its relation to “outsourcing” (the practice of turning over responsibility for production of some to all of an organization's information systems applications and operations to an outside firm)? Is unrestrained international free trade a defensible practice? Is it fair, in particular, to American employees? To what extent are U.S. workers who are losing their jobs due to trade being given the assistance needed to re-tool/transition to new jobs? Is there an “ethics” of globalization?
Doug Ierley is an attorney with the International Trade Practice Group of King & Spalding LLP. He has published several articles on the law, international trade, and the World Trade Organization. Prior to joining King & Spalding, Doug worked in Washington, D.C. with the Legal and Judicial Reform Unit at the World Bank and as the program director for the Institute of International Economic Law at Georgetown University Law Center. Previously Doug worked in the West Bank, Gaza, and Somalia with the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in the fields of human rights and international development. Doug received his B.S. in 1987 and his J.D. in 1990 from the University of Oregon. In 2002, he received his LL.M., with distinction, from Georgetown University Law Center. Doug is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.