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Media Mentions


A selection of articles, op-eds, TV segments, and other media featuring Ethics Center staff and programs.

The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics does not advocate for any product, company, or organization. Our engagements are intended to provide training, customized materials, and other resources. The Markkula Center does not offer certifications or seals of approval.

 

National Catholic Reporter Logo
On Immigration, Americans Must Examine Their Conscience: Catholic Tradition can Help

"It is time for the consciences of Catholics and all citizens to examine policies of detention and deportation in light of the demands of love, truth, dignity and justice — and to act."

In their essay for National Catholic Reporter's feature series on Immigration and the Church, Cantú, DeCosse, and O'Neill, remind us that, "Catholic teaching holds that the law of love is foundational for social ethics because it underwrites three universal values — truth, dignity and justice — by which the civil law should be judged."

"We also recognize that the Catholic Church urges obedience to civil law and recognizes the right of the state lawfully to manage its borders. ... But no president or preacher can finally command our conscience — each person is accountable. And when civil law and government practice depart from the law of love, the law or practice must be revised or opposed.

 

Bishop of San Jose Oscar Cantú, Director of Religious and Catholic Ethics David E. DeCosse, and Director of Immigration Ethics William "Bill" O'Neill, S.J., published by National Catholic Reporter.

Penn Live Logo
Businesses get millions from Dauphin County gaming grants

Dauphin Country receives millions in casino revenue, which funds public gaming grants. These grants are supposed to support programs that benefit the public, yet millions of dollars have still been awarded to private businesses with connections to public officials. Davina Hurt, director of government ethics, speaks to Penn Live about the importance of stricter funding guidelines for this program.

“We want to ensure the system earns and maintains public trust. And currently there are many red flags,” said Davina Hurt

 

Davina Hurt, director, government ethics, quoted by Penn Live.

Penn Live Logo
How Dauphin County insiders turned public funds into private gains

Dauphin County receives gaming grants, which are intended to fund projects such as infrastructure upgrades and other initiatives in the public interest. However, recently these funds have been primarily used to support private businesses owned by those connected to those in charge of distributing the funds.

Davina Hurt, director of government ethics, spoke to Penn Live about how mismanagement of these funds can affect the public's perception of these grants. “And once that trust is questioned, even legitimate grants can be viewed with skepticism,” Hurt said.

 

Davina Hurt, director, government ethics, quoted by Penn Live.

The Daily Beast logo
Trump’s Weekend Golf Antics Land Him in Hot Water

Donald Trump’s weekend on the golf course has sparked another round of questions about how the Trump family is profiting from the presidency.

Trump has largely shrugged off the Saudi government’s alleged human rights abuses in his two terms.

Don Heider, executive director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics called on Congress to check the president on these potential conflicts.

“Where are the ethics of all the members of the Senate and the House? … Why are they so afraid of political pressure they won’t speak up and tell the truth consistently and hold this president accountable?” Heider said.

 

Don Heider, executive director, quoted by The Daily Beast, NewsChannel 5 Nashville, and other outlets.

Christian Science Monitor CSMlogojpg
How the White House Ballroom Became Emblematic of the Trump Presidency

President Trump’s planned 90,000-square-foot, highly secure White House ballroom is an animating focus of his second term and deemed by ethics experts a key example of the administration's pay-to-play behavior.

“President Trump’s approach to ethics seems to be to ask for forgiveness rather than permission,” says Ann Skeet, Ethic Center senior director of leadership ethics.

 

Ann Skeet, senior director, leadership ethics, quoted by The Christian Science Monitor.

America Logo
How to Justly Conduct an Unjust war? Catholic Scholars Weigh in on Iran

We must immediately and unequivocally renounce any genocidal aims, recognize international humanitarian law and the legitimacy of selective conscientious objection for military personnel, pursue negotiations in good faith, and do all possible to secure a lasting cease-fire. 

 

William "Bill" O'Neill S.J., director, immigration ethics, quoted by America Magazine.

SF Chronicle
What UC, SFSU Students say About Using AI — and if it’s Cheating

University of California and California State University campuses, like others around the country, all outlaw cheating — commonly understood as “the attempt to pass off work as your own without having done the work,” said Irina

Raicu says, “the danger is that we have a bunch of people who get ‘faux educated.’ People who have degrees but who don’t really know how to think and how to write.”

 

Irina Raicu, director, internet ethics, quoted by San Francisco Chronicle.

National Catholic Reporter Logo
In the age of AI, St. Joseph the Worker Serves as Valuable Symbol

St. Joseph the Worker symbolizes labor and highlights the importance of work to human flourishing, but in our AI developing world, St. Joseph may also serve as a warning about the loss of work to artificial intelligence.

Ann Skeet, senior director of leadership ethics at the Markkula Center says Catholic leaders should, "remember that you are leading people, not technology."

 

Ann Skeet, senior director, leadership ethics, quoted by National Catholic Reporter.

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