Undergraduate Associates Wrap Up the Semester With a Discussion About Ethics

A legislative aide promises a reporter an exclusive tip — but only if the story casts the aide’s boss in a positive light. Is managing the press this way unethical or just strategic? A senator accepts free VIP tickets to a major sporting event from a lobbying firm. Is it just hospitality, or an unethical gift?

For the final Processes of Politics class of the semester, with Eagleton’s Ginger Schnitzer, the Undergraduate Associates explored the topic of ethics. They were challenged to consider hypothetical situations like these and to apply key ethical concepts like conflict of interest, duty to the public, transparency, and equality of access.

They concluded that ethics in government is not abstract.  How public officials behave either sews the seeds of trust or cynicism in our institutions.  Students left inspired to choose honesty over convenience, fairness over favoritism, and courage over silence. Our democracy will be better for it.