The Rattler (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 100, No. 4, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Page: 10 of 16

                                
10 The Rattler
March 28,2012
Features
www.stmurattlernews.com
S tressin c
versoap
Students discuss problems that arise when doing laundry on campus.
Last year's team at South Central Texas Regional Ethics Bowl competition. /
Photo Courtesy of Sherra Theisen.
Ethics team builds up
machine because some people do not dry all
of their clothes in the dryer.”
Freshman electrical engineering major
Jacob Bartholomew dislikes that there is a
limited number of washers and dryers and a
lack of privacy when doing laundry. “Someone
stole my underwear from the dryer and it really
upset me,” Bartholomew said.
While students see many drawbacks on how
students living on campus handle their laundry,
freshman undeclared business major Danielle
Howell sees the benefits that the University
has implemented. “I really like that we have
‘Laundry View’ online. It is very helpful and I
always use it,” Howell said.
‘Laundry View’ is an online, automated
texting system that a student texts when
they start their laundry and it replies with an
automated message when the load is finished.
The website also allows student to monitor the
washer and dryers for each residence hall on
its website.
While most students encounter difficulties in
finding space to do their laundry, sophomore
mathematics major Torey Tonche has seen
hostility towards other residents when doing
laundry. According to Tonche, “My suitemate
last year needed to put his things in the dryer
and waited an hour before taking someone’s
clothes out. When he returned after
putting his things in the dryer, the
person whose clothes he had taken
out had poured fabric softener on his
stuff and left a rude sticky note
on the dryer addressed to him.”
Many students are
frustrated with the laundry
system on campus
but they should take
responsibility to make the best
of their situation in doing laundry
and keep track of their timing.
According to Trevino, “The best
time to do laundry is during the
0 day when people have class
and students should use their
resources to know when their
laundry is done.”
Graphic / Illustration by Katherine Benavides
By Mercedes Kelso
Staff Writer
With limited washers and dryers available
for doing laundry in residence halls, many
students are often faced with difficulties in
doing laundry at a reasonable hour in the day.
Senior biology major Alyssa Trevino lives
in Adele and almost always faces challenges
when doing her laundry. “When ‘Laundry View’
says a washer is open and I go in to do my
laundry, people have left their clothes in the
machine so I have to take matters into my own
hands and move their stuff,” said Trevino.
When residents leave their things in the
machines for an extended period of time, most
students agree that it is fine to take their things
out. However, there are varying views on what
the proper laundry etiquette is.
Sophomore political science major Angela
Cantu lives in Lourdes and views laundry
etiquette as an effort were residents should be
aware of their timing and that those trying to
find a machine should be considerate of how
people dry their laundry.
Cantu expressed, “Students    should
wait at least 30 minutes before taking
someone’s clothes out and that they
should leave them on the washing 0
By Alexander Eakins
Staff Writer
Generally, discussion of
Greek philosophers and French
philosophy is reserved for the
classroom, but, during the fall, 14
students immersed themselves
in this ongoing dialogue for the
annual Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.
Though rumors might label
them as a debate team, the
ethics bowl team involves more
philosophy and reason, according
to Sherra Theisen, visiting
assistant professor of philosophy
and coach of the ethics bowl
teams on campus.
“The distinction, I think, is a
wonderful one,” Theisen said.
“Typically in a debate, you are
given the point of view that
you have to argue...In ethics
bowls, you are given...the moral
dilemmas to be approached in
advance and the team chooses
what position they want to take...
There is not an obvious solution.”
In ethics bowl, teams can even
take the same position and are
judged on the coherence of their
arguments, the evidence used and
the relevance of that evidence,
according to Theisen.
“It’s much more of a
philosophical dialogue than a
debate,” Theisen said.
Former teacher of criminal
justice Anne Schubert brought
ethics bowl to the University by
organizing the first South Central
Texas Regional Ethics Bowl. When
Anne Schubert left the University
in 2002, Robert Skipper, associate
professor of philosophy, took over
the program.
“[She] participated as a judge
in one of the first national ethics
bowl,” Skipper said. “She became
so enthusiastic about the event
that she organized a team the
following year and took them to
the national ethics bowl.”
Universities are allowed to field
two teams per competition. During
the fall, the University teams—
Bravo and the Rational Rattlers—
competed in the South Central
Texas Regional Ethics Bowl and
both placed about midway in
the total amount of teams. This
meant they were ineligible for the
national competition, according
to Theisen. Placement, however,
was not as important as the
experience, Theisen said.
“They had a blast,” Theisen
said. “For me, that’s really
important.”
Despite having hosted the
South Central Texas Regional
Ethics Bowl competition in the
Fall, advertising the ethics bowl
teams and gaining campus
support has proven difficult,
according to Theisen.
“I should put a sign on my door
that says ‘ethics bowl coach’ or
something,” Theisen said.
Miles Lilly, junior philosophy
and political science double major,
participated in the fall regional
competition. He describes the
dialogue between teammates
as intellectually stimulating and
enjoyable part.
“I didn’t actually perform well,”
Lilly said. “I froze up...I’m not
used to formal speaking. I gave
a strong introduction...but it was
a growth experience. It wasn’t
traumatic or anything.”
Students who join the
ethics bowl team are eligible
for two independent study
credits, according to Theisen.
Furthermore, every student
interested in joining the team is
eligible to do so regardless of
major or classification.
For more information about
joining the ethics bowl team or
assisting in any other way, contact
Sherra Theisen at stheisen1@
stmarytx.edu.