Pitt Business: Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business & College of Business Administration

Press Release

January 29, 2007

Pitt Undergraduates Win First Place in State Business Ethics Case Competition

Carrie Tersigni and Kathryn Connor advance to Phi Beta Lambda's National Leadership Conference Ethics Case Competition in June

PITTSBURGH—University of Pittsburgh sophomores Carrie Tersigni and Kathryn Connor took first place in the Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) State Leadership Conference business ethics case competition, held April 14 in Harrisburg. The first place win qualifies Tersigni and Connor to compete at the organization’s National Leadership Conference, June 23-26 in Chicago.

The annual PBL State Leadership Conference provides PBL members from college and university chapters throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania the chance to attend workshops and general sessions, listen to guest speakers, and test in one of more than 30 competitions offered through the national PBL organization. First and second prize winners from each of the competitions advance to compete at the annual PBL National Leadership Conference.

At the April 14 business ethics case competition, Tersigni and Connor chose to present the case of pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and the decision it faced regarding whether or not to continue the practice of conducting Phase I clinical trials on homeless volunteers. The Pitt team recommended that the drugmaker continue to use homeless volunteers in Phase I clinical trials, hiring additional counselors to confirm that the homeless volunteers signed and understood the consent form and truly desired to participate in the trial. Tersigni and Connor also suggested that these counselors provide life-skills training and financial guidance to the homeless volunteers.

To arrive at this recommendation, Tersigni and Connor explored the justice and rights methods of ethical analysis, supported by John Rawls's theory of justice and Emmanuel Kant's categorical imperative.

A finance major, economics minor, Tersigni is a native of Bethlehem, Pa. Connor, of Pittsburgh, is studying marketing and finance. Both young women are enrolled in Certificate Program in Leadership and Ethics (CPLE) offered through the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration and David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership. The CPLE immerses students in business ethics over a three-year period beginning in their sophomore year, helping them to explore the relationship between leadership and ethics through class work, service learning projects, internships, and mentoring opportunities.

Future Business Leaders of American-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) is a nonprofit 503 (c)(3) education association of students preparing for careers in business and business-related fields. The association has divisions for middle school, high school, and postsecondary students, in addition to a Professional Alumni Division for business practitioners, educators, and parents who support the goals of the organization. The mission of FBLA-PBL is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.

Pitt’s PBL chapter is in its first year and has more than 50 undergraduate business student members. Twenty-four of the chapter’s members attended the PBL State Leadership Conference in Harrisburg April 13-15. The trip was underwritten by Pitt’s David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership and ALDI Inc.