Six William Peace University students gather a few times a week in Flowe Academic building, and for two hours, they hash out their differences.
Well, maybe not differences, but they put their opinions on the table and don’t leave that room until they are all on the same page.
This is in preparation for the North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (NCICU) Ethics Bowl.
The Ethics Bowl is a debate competition, but unlike a normal debate, two teams can have the same conclusion to their argument. The Ethics Bowl is more about the content, the quality of reason, and the presentation style.
“They might be on the same side,” said Dr. Scott McElreath, Peace’s Ethics Bowl Coordinator. “But they are debating over the reasons.”
Twenty teams from the NCICU will participate this year, February 7 – 8 at the N.C. Legislative Complex in downtown Raleigh.
All Peace students participating signed up for a course that started in the middle of the fall semester. They are giving 10 cases to study. Some examples of cases this year are:
- Whether or not the government should restrict social media for young adults.
- Should government leaders allow votes on whether to put fluoride in their water?
- Should there be healthcare for undocumented immigrants?
- Is it wrong for a doctor to help a patient commit suicide?
At the competition, the judges ask each team about a particular case. Four players from the team are on the stage and given five minutes to confer and another five minutes to present their answers to the judges.
There is a question and answer session from the judges, and the two teams get to ask each other questions. Peace prepares for the events by reviewing the cases during the season and coming up with their answers after healthy discussions.
“That’s just pure democracy right there,” McElreath said. “Sometimes, one or two people get voted out because of the majority views. There’s a part of our presentation where we respond to an objection we think someone else might have.”
Past success for William Peace University
William Peace University has done well in the event.
In 2024, the Peace team finished fifth. During the COVID year (2020), Peace was undefeated, but it was an abbreviated competition, so there were no semifinal and final rounds.
“We’re usually competitive,” McElreath said. “But we’ve never made the semifinals.”
There’s more, though, to the entire experience than winning and losing. Participants take part in a formal dinner on Friday night, where they get to sit with the judges and coordinators for networking opportunities.
“A big part of this is allowing the students to shine in front of people,” McElreath said. “It might lead to a job. The big thing for the students is it’s a great thing to put on their resumes.”
2025 NCICU Ethics Bowl Schedule
Friday, February 7
N.C. Legislative Complex
1:45 – 2:45 p.m. Round One – Team Debates
3:15 – 4:15 p.m. Round Two – Team Debates
4:45 – 5:45 p.m. Round Three – Team Debates
Saturday, February 8
N.C. Legislative Complex
8:45 – 9:45 a.m. Fourth Round – Team Debates
10:15 a.m. – Announcement of Semi-Finalists
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Semi-Final Rounds
11:45 a.m. – Final Round and Trophy Presentation
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