the ethicist

Author: Amanda Greene

Everyone is talking about elections. "Obama or Clinton" is a question asked as often as "beef or chicken." People are deciding who they want to vote for, and the American public is finally talking about issues. What about health care? How should we fix public education? How do we get out of Iraq? Candidates are debating, and are calling each other out on points where their policies and agendas differ. It's wonderful.

Middlebury's election for SGA president was held last week. Ten people with different platforms, goals and viewpoints vied for the job. Midd students were presented with diversity of choice, and the candidates demonstrated that they are committed to making a difference and to changing our community for the better. I applaud everyone who ran for president. But where was the debate?

The SGA candidates were not given the opportunity to talk to students, faculty and community members in a public forum. This was an injustice for both the candidates and the community. I understand that there was no debate last year, because Max Nardini was the only candidate for SGA President. I also understand and support SGA's decision to hold elections earlier in the semester so that the new SGA president can shadow the old administration and become familiar with his or her new responsibilities. But, earlier elections should not preclude a debate. The bottom line is, there was time for a debate to be held, and SGA should have facilitated and mandated such a discussion.

I know that some of SGA's members have devoted significant energy to a campaign that aims to increase public speaking on campus with the desire to better prepare students for jobs that emphasize interpersonal skills. What message is SGA sending when it supports curriculum changes that incorporate public speaking into classes, yet fails to engage its own candidates in a debate of the issues? I'm aware that Hiba Fakhoury is abroad, but I hope that something can be arranged so that she and Bobby Joe Smith III can debate each other before Middlebury votes, once again, for its next leader. Perhaps this week, when students wait in line at the dining hall, "Hiba or Bobby" will be overheard more often than "Clinton or Obama." Wouldn't that be cool?

And now for this week's question:

Q: As a theater major, I get complementary tickets to faculty shows. Sometimes, I don't end up going to the performances and give the tickets to my friends. My friends then end up seeing for free a performance that they would have paid for. Is this ethical?
- Ticket-Trader

A: If you received a gift certificate to a restaurant you didn't like that your friend loved, you would have no problem giving the gift certificate to your friend. Theater tickets, like gift certificates and concert tickets, provided they do not have a name written on the document, are exchangeable. There is nothing wrong with giving a ticket you aren't going to use to a friend. If your friend enjoys the show and wants to support the arts, she is free to make a contribution, of the price of the ticket, to the Theater Department.

Want to consult the ethicist? Send submissions to amgreene@middlebury.edu