Fellowship creates new ethics program
By Troy Simpson
Three Santa Clara seniors, in partnership with the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, will pioneer several new programs in order to raise awareness about ethical issues around campus.
The programs, to be created by Hackworth Fellowship recipients Mike Loza, Dan Merritts and Meg Parker, are designed to increase student involvement and interest in ethics-related topics outside of the classroom and will most likely be implemented in the coming months.
"I am really excited about it because it's something new at Santa Clara, and we really have an opportunity to create a really good program for the students," said Parker. "There really hasn't been a place at Santa Clara for undergrads to openly talk about ethical issues. I'm excited because there's finally something that we're doing for the students through the Ethics Center, and I'm happy to be a part of it."
Executive Director for the Markkula Center, Kirk Hanson, said that the students have already proven their creativity in their suggestions of programs that may be successful as stimulants for ethical discussions.
"It is critically important that the Ethics Center serve the students," Hanson said. "One way we serve the students is by helping the development of courses on ethics. The Hackworth Fellows are both helping define what kinds of programs the center ought to have for students and then implementing them."
At this point, the students are only brainstorming the direction of their future programs. However, some initial ideas include the possibility of a weekly internet-based discussion panel, a newspaper column focused on ethical questions and dilemmas, after-dinner discussions on current ethical topics and a program designed to meet the needs of commuter students by bringing them closer to the center.
"Any discussion is constructive, however, having the opportunity to engage in two-way dialogue and not have marginalized voices or perceptions that a group is marginalized provides a more equal platform for forum on campus," said Merritts.
Loza, Merritts and Parker are the first Hackworth Fellows at the university attempting to create programs aimed to benefit the Markkula Center and the Santa Clara community of students and faculty by opening the doors of ethical communication.
"We want the students to get involved and discuss issues they wouldn't otherwise discuss," said Loza.
Funding for the Hackworth Fellowship comes from a two million dollar endowment from Santa Clara alumni, Michael Hackworth and his wife, Joan. The endowment provided the Markkula Center the ability to run programs such as the Hackworth Fellowship, along with increasing resources to further faculty research.
Although Loza, Merritts and Parker are the first Hackworth Fellows, Hanson said that the program is planned to run for years to come.
"We expect this program to continue indefinitely," said Hanson. "These are the first of what we hope are Hackworth Fellows that are selected each year from here forward."