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Business Students Make Finals in Ethics Competition, Credit Classroom Training
By Abby P. Metzger
Students Teri Young and Elise Abramson took fourth place at the 2007 Eller Ethics Case Competition at the University of Arizona October 25-27. This is the third time that an OSU College of Business team made it to the final round.
 The Eller Ethics Case Competition began in fall 2003 as part of an effort to promote academic integrity and ethical character development. This year, teams from 21 different universities assumed the identity of a board member for Outdoor Adventure Systems, a company dealing with profit losses. Students had to decide whether or not to compromise OAS's commitment to the environment by outsourcing labor and using cheaper, less eco-friendly materials.
Participating institutions included Arizona State University, Oregon State University, Rutgers University, University of Wyoming, Seattle University, University of Washington, University of Texas at Austin, University of Nevada - Las Vegas, University of North Dakota, University of Utah, University of Southern California, Indiana University, Purdue University, Brigham Young University, Pennsylvania State University, Iowa State University, University of Illinois, Case Western Reserve University, Southern New Hampshire University, University of Florida, and Valdosta State University.
"Our initial instinct was that customers and shareholders care more about sustainable products than cost," explained Abramson.
Young and Abramson proposed a market research program that focused on a resolution suitable for the company and customers. "This was more of a people problem, so we stressed building common ground with shareholders and remaining transparent," Young said.
Both students feel strongly about ethics in business and praise OSU's professors and classes. "We have ethics intertwined in all of our business coursework-this really speaks to OSU," said Young. "We were hand-picked by Professor Jack Drexler, so we were absolutely thrilled and honored to represent OSU at the competition."
Abramson agrees with her teammate, saying, "It's so important in today's world to think about the ethics of business. I'm thankful for all my classes at OSU because I felt really prepared."
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