Whistleblower speaks during annual lecture

Time magazine's 2002 Co-Person of the Year Cynthia Cooper spoke about her new book "Extraordinary Circumstances: The Journey of Corporate Whistleblower" at the Ferguson Theater Thursday night.

Presented by the Culverhouse College of Commerce and the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility, Cooper spoke as part of the J. Craig annual lecture series.

Cooper received her master's degree in accountancy from the University, but became widely recognized after uncovering the corporate fraud at WorldCom as vice president of internal audit at WorldCom.

Director of the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility Stephen Black welcomed the audience as he introduced William Jackson, who introduced Cooper.

As Cooper began speaking about her book, she told the audience that "Extraordinary Circumstances" was meant for young people and college students. She said the book offered personal lessons that someone can take and apply to life.

Cooper asked the audience to name an everyday ethical dilemma a person may face. With responses about cheating, speeding and lying, Cooper responded by telling the story of two people, Betty and Troy, who worked at WorldCom and made the ethical decision of not doing anything about the fraud.

Cooper kept the audience involved as she told everyone to stand. Each audience member in the theater rose as Cooper instructed everyone to close his or her eyes and point north. After each person opened his or her eyes and noticed the hands pointing in every direction, Cooper pointed out how everyone has a different idea of what is going on.

"Be sure to draw clear ethical boundaries early in life and never let yourself be intimidated by anyone," Cooper said, as she advised the students how to deal with ethical dilemmas.

Cooper gave a brief history of the rise and fall of WorldCom and WorldCom's CEO Bernie Ebbers, who lost everything by trying to take too much from the company.

"It's a story about people and choices. The people's names will change, but the ethical dilemmas will still take place," said Cooper.

Hayley McNeill, a sophomore majoring in musical theater and business, said she "really enjoyed Ms. Cooper as she emphasized how silence is acceptance, and how doing the right thing isn't always easy, but it is the right thing to do."

After the lecture, Cooper, with the help of Jackson, presented the J. Craig Smith Integrity Awards to Diana Carroll, a senior majoring in management and information systems, and Joshua Daily, a senior majoring in marketing.

Cooper said coming back to Tuscaloosa was like coming home.

"It has been a gracious day, and I was able to speak to classes and advisors," said Cooper.

Cooper's other recognitions include being named the 2004 American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Hall of Fame and the recipient of the 2003 Accounting Exemplar Award.

Currently, Cooper is a Certified Public Accountant in Georgia, a Certified Information Systems Auditor and a Certified Fraud Examiner.