Holley Program in Applied Ethics

Dr. Boeri interrogated eurocentrism in cross-cultural research and considered ways to counter it. This forum focused on western theories of political economy and how they explain and do not explain women’s work in the context of the Global South. It examined the implications of this for labor mobilization in India, as well as how these alternative approaches might apply to work, labor, and care in the US.

This presentation discussed how Haitian Vodou ecological ethics can be used to address forms of oppression such as ecocide, sexism and homophobia. Dr. Cleophat examined the personalities, characteristics, and manifestations of the lwas (Vodou divinities) as a theological source for an eco-theology of liberation.

With experience in two literacy initiatives (one in central Haiti, and one with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program), Dr. McCook explored these questions: What does literacy achieve? What are the benefits and risks to teaching literacy across cultures and languages? What do historical examples of literacy campaigns teach us about the roles and purposes of literacy volunteers? What can people interested in the power of literacy do today?

Dr. Fasanella provided an overview of the ethical response of our country and, in particular, our state to provide quality education for all learners; this overview included both the historical perspective and the current status of teaching and learning. Joining the discussion were Jasmine Webster, an education major at Bloomfield College, and Jasmine Kennedy, a doctoral student at Saint Peter's University.

This forum focused on the financial scandals and events of the past two decades: Enron, Bernard Madoff, and the Great Financial Crisis of 2007-2008. Professor Luchka highlighted the toxic environment where these scandals took place, and focused on how students may be affected as they work and try to fill leadership roles within such an environment.

Dr. Franqui-Rivera explored how we have descended into an Age of Alternate Facts, in which political factions operate within echo chambers, creating their own realities, a world in which the President of the United States shows complete disregard for the record and lies with impunity. Scholars have a responsibility to step into the public arena and restore accuracy and reliability by becoming creators and disseminators of knowledge. While total objectivity in history is a myth because complete impartiality is not possible, a historian's training and vocation provides the tools and desire to discern between truth and lies, between facts and opinions.

Dr. Obeidat discussed the hazardous materials that go in the making of technology, obsolescence at a formidable scale, why recycling is not so benign, the ecological and biological effects of improper recycling, and what constitutes proper recycling.

This forum examined questions that journalism educators must address when teaching news gathering and reporting in the era of President Donald Trump. Professor Dillard explored what the public should expect from journalists. What tactics are being used by politicians and spokespersons to confuse the public and journalists? And why should we all be concerned about 24-hour media exposure?

Stereotype threat refers to being at risk of confirming a negative stereotype about one's group. Dr. Kardos demonstrated how stereotypes, by affecting their targets directly, can explain ethnic differences in standardized test performance and the lack of diversity in specific occupations.

Theatre as ancient as Greek Comedy has been a "safe and special" space where subversion is practiced. Given her work on theatre as rhetorical theory, Dr. Ramsby added to dominant contemporary narratives about Ancient Greek Rhetoric an account of Aristophanes' Clouds, which lampoons Socratic and civic rhetoric, focusing on the body and its functions as a way to satirize rhetorical practice.

One of the most difficult leadership challenges in organizations is to create and maintain an ethical climate. Dr. Cruse led a conversation that focused on how leaders can influence the ethical values of organizations, build trust, and set behavioral boundaries within an organization.

The Common Core State Standards in Mathematics and English Language Arts are a hot-button topic; their politicization has led to confusion over their intended purpose and their curricular applications. Is it appropriate to create a baseline for all students regardless of their education and socioeconomic background? Dr. Cook discussed the history of the standards, their current status in the United States (and in New Jersey), and the pros and cons of such educational standardization.

The use of animals in research is an increasingly divisive issue, even within the scientific community. Dr. Aidala discussed numerous ethical approaches towards the use of animals in scientific research, specifically examining the ethical dilemmas of biomedical and ecological research from both basic and applied approaches.

This forum focused on the challenges associated with art composed from borrowed expressions. With persona poetry (poetry written in a voice other than the poet's), Professor Gadson explored these questions: Who has the right to "give voice to the voiceless"? How do you avoid your voice overshadowing the voices you seek to amplify? Who can speak for whom?

Dr. Moran aimed to raise awareness of mass incarceration, a subject already popularized by Michelle Alexander''s book The New Jim Crow and by thousands of activists across the country. This forum also examined the American prison system with the intent of representing it accurately.

Professor Gomez-Delgado reflected on how the identities of young people today are being formed in the online world. He asked, how do these digital environments create new mental models and new ethical minds? Where are the boundaries, and what exactly constitutes the digital territory?