Moral Forum, the program that gives students a chance to research both sides of an issue and debate them in a campus-wide tournament, will be here permanently after receiving a $300,000 endowment.
Synovus Financial Corporation donated the funds and named the endowment in honor of James "Jim" Hayes Jr.
Established in 2006, Moral Forum allows students to research both sides of an issue to give them multiple perspectives of prominent issues.
The students then debate the topic in a campus-wide tournament. Community leaders judge the competition, and scholarships are awarded to teams and individuals who are successful in the semi-final and final rounds.
"Synovus strongly supports the concept of the Moral Forum and believes that addressing and debating moral and ethical issues at the university level will benefit generations of students to come," said Richard Anthony, chairman and chief executive officer of Synovus.
Anthony said the corporation was pleased to honor Hayes because he exemplifies the ideals of Moral Forum. Hayes is president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, serves on the board of advisers for the UA Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility and is a co-chair of the national steering committee.
Stephen Black, the director of the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility - the center responsible for Moral Forum - said Hayes possesses all the qualities of leadership.
"He is what is best about Alabama. He is passionately committed to his perspective while being respectful of others' perspectives at the same time," Black said.
Hayes said he is thrilled by the humbling experience and considers it an honor to be recognized by a quality organization like Synovus, and by friends whom he holds in high esteem.
"Moral Forum is exactly what our society needs right now," Hayes said. "There are no absolutes. Not everything is black and white. There are grey areas, and until society engages in dialogue about these grey areas, we will not solve our problems."
Hayes is also a long-time member of the UA president's cabinet, and has earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in industrial engineering at the Capstone. He received an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 2004. He has also been recognized as a Distinguished Engineering Fellow. He has received the UA Alumnus of the Year Award and the College of Commerce Achievement in Finance Award.
Black said the center plans to use the money - a portion of which has already been received, with the full donation to be collected by 2010 - to back scholarships and cover administration costs.
Students interested in participating in Moral Forum should contact Black at sblack@aalan.ua.edu.
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