LSU Ethics Bowl Team Earns National Spotlight in Only Its Second Year
November 21, 2025
The LSU Ethics Bowl team is showing everyone that LSU is a team that wins well beyond the playing field. In just its second year of competition, the Cecil L. Eubanks Ethics Bowl Team has earned a spot at the National APPE Ethics Bowl in St. Louis.
Members of the Ethics Bowl team.
The Ethics Bowl pushes students to tackle real-world dilemmas through a combination of philosophy, communication, and teamwork. Competitors study a slate of cases in advance, each rooted in ethical questions that touch politics, law, medicine, technology, and everyday life.
During each match, teams present a ten-minute argument on a question drawn from one of these cases. Then, teams must respond to commentary from the other teams and rapid-fire questions from the judges, all while maintaining a focus on ethical reasoning and clear communication.
LSU competes with two five-member teams, each person taking on a specific role. For senior James Beatty, his role as the “anchor” is to be the final speaker, offering any objections and thoughtful replies to the opposing team.
“What mattered most at the competition wasn’t how polished we looked or how rehearsed other teams seemed, it was the strength of our argument. It validated that content over style is what wins.”
Mehek Randhawa, LSU senior and Ethics Team member
“I have to learn every possible objection and reply for all of our cases before we compete,” Beatty said. “It forces me to think on my feet, especially when we get an unusual question or an angle we didn’t anticipate.”
Preparation for this event includes reading philosophy, thinking critically, and learning frameworks. It also involves constant practice that encourages students to think sharply and work harder as a team.
Beatty, being one of the founding members, said this year’s success is a reflection of how far they have come in a short amount of time. Competing against already well-established programs, and this being LSU’s second year in competition, they have really stood their ground, advancing deep into regionals even sending Ole Miss home, a moment Beatty called his favorite of the season.
He said the run to nationals also highlighted the strength of the LSU philosophy program and the power of collaboration, noting how the experience has sharpened his communication skills, taught him humility, and strengthened his relationships beyond participating in the Ethics Bowl.
“The fact that a group of LSU students, in only our second year of Ethics Bowl, came in and held our own against some of the strongest programs in the South says a lot,” Beatty said. “There are eyes on us now, both at LSU and in the wider world of philosophy.”
Beatty’s experience captures the competitive edge of the Ethics Bowl. But another senior, Mehek Randhawa, says the team’s strength also comes from the quieter moments, the long discussions, the shared ideas, and the hours spent shaping arguments together.
Randhawa first heard about the Ethics Bowl team in her professor's class, but it wasn’t until this past summer that she joined the team. She would describe the Ethics Bowl as “a kind of debate, but nicer” where most of the real work happens long before they ever reach the competition.
“So much of the Ethics Bowl is about creating a strong conversation,” she said. “What mattered most at the competition wasn’t how polished we looked or how rehearsed other teams seemed, it was the strength of our argument. It validated that content over style is what wins.”
She said the moment LSU realized they were in contention for Nationals, “it didn’t feel real until the fourth round,” and called the achievement a testament to the team’s hard work and the support of assistant coach Gabe Sarrategui and Professor Kelley.
Representing LSU on a national stage, she added, feels “rewarding and energizing,” especially knowing how much their success showcases the strength and potential of LSU students across every discipline.
“It feels great… rewarding to represent the school that gave me so many opportunities,”
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