LAUREN PUTNOCKY -- The Flat Hat Panelists discussed a variety of ethical issues Wednesday as part of the first annual Ethics Beyond the Burg panel, sponsored by the Judicial Council.

Ethics panel dicusses business scandals, liberal media bias

By Jim Hesler
The Flat Hat

The first annual Ethics Beyond the Burg panel discussion took place Wednesday evening in Andrews Hall. The panel, presented by the Undergraduate Judicial Council, dealt with the topic of ethics in business, media and legal fields. Judicial Council co-Chair junior Kristin McGough moderated the panel, which was attended by about 30 people, all but a few of whom were students.

Three panelists were present. Judge Eugene Sullivan is a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals. Having served as both a private lawyer and a federal judge, he also served on former President Richard Nixon's Watergate Defense Council. Cindy Satterwhite, '77, is a former Certified Public Accountant and current Chief Financial Officer of Prestige Brands International. She is Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the Endowment Association of the College. The third panelist was Ernie Gates, editor of the Daily Press.

Gates, the first speaker, discussed "obedience to the unenforceable." He used examples from the news media world to demonstrate the need for four things: truth, loyalty to citizens, independence and complete reporting.

Satterwhite, with her experience in accounting, spoke of honesty and proper disclosure of information in the business world.

Sullivan spoke last, focusing on the role of ethics in legal and business issues.

The panelists then received questions from the audience, regarding many different issues from the corporate scandals of Enron and Tyco to the alleged liberal bias of media.

The panel went for about an hour and a half, and was well received by the audience. It is the intention of the Judicial Council to do this panel annually.

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