The Rutland Institute for Ethics at Clemson University has announced the winners of this year’s J.T. Barton, Jr. Ethics Essay Competition. The competition, which is open to all Clemson University students, has two tracks: one for undergraduates and one for graduate students.

The topic of this year’s competition was “Science and Community: Mandatory Genetic Testing?” Contestants were asked to demonstrate ethical judgment and reasoning in addressing the central question of whether genetic testing should be mandatory. Winners were selected by a panel of judges from three of Clemson’s five colleges. The top prizes carry scholarship awards, as noted below.

 

UNDERGRADUATE RECIEPIENTS

FIRST PLACE	KELSEY TAYLOR	SOPHOMORE; ARCHITECTURE
SECOND PLACE	MATTHEW BESSETTE	FRESHMAN; GENERAL ENGINEERING
THIRD PLACE	MARK BOERCKEL	SENIOR; ECONOMICS
HONORABLE MENTION	REID SEILER	JUNIOR; ECONOMICS
HONORABLE MENTION	LAURA KERBO	FRESHMAN; LANGUAGE & INTERNATIONAL TRADE

 

GRADUATE RECIEPIENT

FIRST PLACE

WILLIAM HANSON

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP-HIGHER ED.

 

We would like to extend thanks to everyone who participated in this year's competition, and we hope that you will consider submitting for next year.

 

 

Science and Community:

Mandatory Genetic Testing?

The Robert J. Rutland Institute for Ethics Announces

The 7th Annual J.T. Barton, Jr. Ethics

Essay Scholarship Competition

The competition, which is open to all Clemson University students, has two tracks: one for undergraduates and one for graduate students.

There are three scholarship prizes

in the undergraduate competition:

FIRST PRIZE	$1,500 Scholarship
SECOND PRIZE	$1,000 Scholarship
THIRD PRIZE	$500 Scholarship

 

Graduate students at Clemson University are invited to compete with their peers for a $1,500 Scholarship.

 

Topic: Science and Community
Mandatory Genetic Testing?

Suppose a bill is introduced in the US Congress to make pre-marital genetic testing for serious genetic conditions mandatory, just as pre-marital testing for venereal disease is already mandatory in most states.  It is argued that this is in the best interests of the community as well as the couples planning to marry, since otherwise many children might be born with terrible genetic diseases that could be avoided.  If the tests could be administered in a way that was affordable and accurate, should the government require them?

The central question is whether genetic testing should be mandatory, not what should be done with the information the tests reveal.  The “should” here is ethical.  Thus, although the question has a political dimension and a public policy dimension, ethical reasoning and judgment will be necessary to adequately address it.

 

 

 

 

Essays must be typed (double-spaced) using a twelve-point font
The title page should include the author's name and contact information (text of the paper should be suitable for blind review. Your name should NOT appear in the text of the paper)
Essays must not exceed 1,500 words (a word count must be included on the title page; references and citations are not included in the word count)

 

Essays must be submitted in both hard copy and electronic form on a diskette or CD. The hard copy and the electronic copy should be delivered to the Rutland Institute for Ethics, 126 Hardin Hall.

Early submissions, for example, during the fall semester, are welcome.

 

The deadline for submissions is

4:30 PM Friday, February 29, 2008.

Winners will be notified in March 2008.

Instructions and resource materials are available below...

Instructions

Mechanics

Resources

 

The Rutland Institute is committed to Clemson University’s Academic Integrity Policy.

For additional information send email queries to DJONES1@clemson.edu.