graciously Funded to the fordham University center for ethics education by the Chynn Family Foundation, The essay competition aims to stimulate self-examination about concepts of ethics and morality encountered personally or as a concerned member of society.

Winners from left to right: Penny Joseph, Olivia Tafs, and Michael Sluck.

OLIVIA TAFS was awarded best essay for their paper “Unsolved: How Investigative True Crime Soothes and Provokes Our Consciences.“ As interest in true crime content has continued to increase fueled by new forms of media, such as podcasts, TikTok, Netflix documentaries, and YouTube, highly publicized investigations and sensationalized narratives have blurred the line between news and entertainment. While some creators have strove for a more “highbrow”/professional approach, other creators have chosen to capitalize on fear and suspense. As consumers of such content, we must critically assess the ethical implications and real-world consequences when choosing to engage with true crime content. Tafs (FCRH ’24) is presently double majoring in political science and Spanish language & literature, and minoring in peace & justice studies and women, gender, & sexuality studies.

Awarded first runner-up was PENNY JOSEPH for their paper “OCD, Humanism, and “Cancel Culture”.” Joseph explores the connection between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and modern “cancel culture,” reflecting on their own experience with OCD and the constant need for reassurance about their morality. Drawing parallels between “cancel culture” and the black-and-white thinking of OCD, Joseph argues for the acceptance of ambiguity and discomfort; encouraging society to be more comfortable with uncertainty and to challenge the philosophy of Humanism, which places excessive emphasis on individual moral purity. Joseph (FCLC ’25) is currently double majoring in American studies and anthropology with a minor in Spanish.

And awarded second-runner up was MICHAEL SLUCK for their paper titled “Climate Vegetarianism: Diet Ethics in the Context of a Changing Planet.” Sluck examines “climate vegetarianism,” a growing movement that advocates for abstaining from meat consumption due to concerns about the environmental impact of animal agriculture. But while climate vegetarians believe in the power of personal choices, critics question the effectiveness of individual actions in combating climate change and argue for more systemic reforms. However, Sluck posits their own ethical objections to the “climate vegetarianism” movement, arguing that animals should be “treated as means to a greater good, rather than ends in it of themselves;” imploring us to reconsider our relationship with the environment and all species on our planet. Sluck (FCRH ’24) is a double major in political science and computer science.

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Honourable Mentions

Sophia Cano (FCRH ’25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Religion: The Opium that Soothes the Ache of Ethical Dilemma”

Major in cognitive integrative neuroscience

Anna Nowalk (FCLC ’23) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Nonviolent Creativity”

majors in Theology and music

Anna Rubio Rodriguez (FCRH ’24) . . . . . “Uninformed Consent: Pelvic Examinations under Anesthesia”

majors in Psychology and English

Cary Wang (FCLC ’23) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “The Frequent Wilderness: On Ethics of Ecotourism”

Major in Computer and Information Sciences

For more information about the prize, past winners, and submission requirements for 2024, please visit the Chynn Ethics Paper Prize webpage. The deadline to submit is Friday, March 15th, 2024 and is open to ALL undergraduates.

Thank you again to all those who submitted their essays and we look forward to reading the next submissions for the upcoming 2024 Chynn Paper Prize!

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