The Association for Character and Ethics (ACE) held an information session and open-forum style debate last Thursday to discuss ethics in politics concerning the upcoming 2008 elections.

The event took place in the Schneider boardroom of the Daniels College of Business and was moderated by professor Corey Ciochetti. It was attended by just under 20 students.

The discussion began with the ACE board members giving short presentations on the four main presidential candidates and their platforms. Those in attendance were provided with a brief but thorough synopsis of the beliefs and stances of John McCain, Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

A short lecture on the function of the Electoral College was given by Ciochetti.

Next came the debate. Students spoke about a variety of issues, including celebrity endorsements of candidates, racial demographics among potential voters and if and when overt displays of emotion are appropriate in a president.

ACE’s intent is to increase membership and spread a message of ethical conduct to the student body.

“We’re trying to get a group together to discuss ethics without having to worry about being judged in a classroom setting,” said marketing and public relations officer Andrea Tilliss.

“We try to create a laid back atmosphere for discussion, an area where we can discuss issues free from outside criticism and where anything goes.”

“It takes a lot of character to show up to a meeting like this in your free time after school,” said Schulz. “It’s awesome to see so many fresh faces here.”

“These discussions stem from our passion for talking about these issues,” said ACE Vice President Jenny Hite.