A team from Sweet Briar College will compete in the 10th annual Wachovia Ethics Bowl on Feb. 8 and 9 at Washington and Lee University.

The team — Sarah Jones ’11, Caroline Sapp ’09, Kennedy Munro ’11, Jennifer Lundy ’10 and Jessica Gregg ’09 — will debate against students from 14 independent Virginia colleges and universities. They are coached by assistant professor of government Spencer Bakich.

At the competition, teams analyze hypothetical scenarios that present ethical dilemmas related to a theme, formulate responses to the problems and defend their positions. This year’s theme is “Ethics and Journalism.”

At the Ethics Bowl, which is co-sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, teams from the VFIC member colleges are split into two divisions and go head-to-head in four rounds. The division winners meet in a fifth round to decide the champion.

At least year’s competition, held at Marymount University in Arlington, Sweet Briar finished with a 2-2 record after a tough fourth-round debate against the eventual winner, Mary Baldwin College.

Co-chairs for this year’s event are Roger Mudd, former journalist for CBS and The History Channel, and Ken Garren, president of Lynchburg College. The competition is judged by notable professionals from business, finance, law, journalism and other fields.

“This unique event allows prominent business and community leaders to interact with dynamic students who will be the leaders of tomorrow,” Bill Crawford, Wachovia executive vice president and VFIC board member said.

“The topic of journalism is quite appropriate given the recent election news coverage, and we expect this year’s program to be an energetic and engaging sharing of ethical perspectives and values.”

The Ethics Bowl program will commence with an opening session at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8 in the Stackhouse Theater at Washington and Lee’s John W. Elrod University Commons. The first round of debates is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Rounds three and four will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 9 and the final round of competition will take place at 11:30 a.m. The winner will be announced at 12:45 p.m. Monday.

The public is invited to attend the debate sessions free of charge.

Founded in 1952, the VFIC is a nonprofit fund-raising partnership supporting the programs and students of 15 leading private colleges in the Commonwealth: Bridgewater College, Emory & Henry College, Hampden-Sydney College, Hollins University, Lynchburg College, Mary Baldwin College, Marymount University, Randolph College, Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke College, Shenandoah University, Sweet Briar College, University of Richmond, Virginia Wesleyan College and Washington and Lee University.

For more information, visit the VFIC's Web site.