By Jacqueline Arroyo / The Jambar
The Youngstown State University board of trustees met Dec. 11-12 in Tod Hall to discuss key university topics, approve measures to foster student success and enhance academic programs.
Discussions among various committees occurred Dec. 11, while Dec. 12 was reserved for formal votes on agenda items. The formal meeting’s agenda included presentations, reports from the university president and consideration of both unfinished and new businesses.
Two presentations captured attention during the formal meeting. Alan Tomhave, philosophy professor and associate dean of Beeghly College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences and Education, detailed the achievements of YSU’s Ethics Bowl team.
Meanwhile, men’s sophomore tennis player Onder Balci shared a personal account of how YSU provided him opportunities through the tennis program.
“My colleague is setting up a two-minute timer and you’ll understand what that two-minute timer is in just a minute,” Tomhave said. “In that two-minutes, they have to come up with an answer to that question and figure out which sort of ethical approach they want to take”.
Tomhave said the Ethics Bowl is a debate-style competition centered on a set of cases that require students to conduct a detailed analysis of ethical issues.
During his presentation, he outlined four key components of the Ethics Bowl. According to Tomhave, teams are not told which cases will be assigned to them in advance or the specific questions asked. Students’ success depends on their comprehension and analysis of the case, in which teams are given two minutes to confer and prepare for their 10-minute presentation.
A key element in preparing students was the involvement of guest judges during practice sessions, which provided feedback and insights on how the team can better themselves and their arguments.
“We have faculty from across campus that have represented four colleges that regularly come and give us two hours of their time,” Tomhave said.
He concluded his presentation by highlighting YSU’s performance during the competition and introduced members of the Ethics Bowl team. The students shared how the experience shaped their critical thinking skills, especially under the pressure of time constraints.
Following the Ethics Bowl presentation, men’s tennis Head Coach Kody Duncan, and Balci took the stage. Duncan outlined the team’s goals and accomplishments, followed by a personal story from Balci.
A native of Antalya, Turkey, Balci is a business major who began playing tennis at age five and quickly developed a passion for the sport. He shared how he was left speechless when YSU’s previous coach reached out with an opportunity to join the team.
“I was amazed by this chance because I didn’t have the opportunity to keep playing tennis,” Balci said.
Since arriving at YSU two years ago, Balci has expressed appreciation for the facilities and resources that have helped him improve his game. He looks forward to continuing to pursue his passion for tennis, while advancing his education.
“All I know is that YSU’s meaning in my life is priceless,” Balci said. “I was going to be a student back home but now I have the opportunity to do what I love.”
These presentations contributed to the board’s decision to further invest in attracting international students and continuing support for academic programs.
