Professor Elam

Monday May 8 2017

We literally ran  out of time to evaluate all the fine posters the ACCT 5308 Ethics Class delivered.  So let's compliment them on this weblog.

Jackqi Aguillen, Jennifer Lopez, Tesia Muniz, Priscilla Segovia

Briles Going the Extra Mile

The first thing that jumped out at me was the team's use of the Baylor gold and green official colors, nice touch ladies!

The project examines the cover up of literal crimes committed by Baylor players via Art Briles, the football coach. He knew of the misconduct and not only did nothing but actively worked to cover it up. The cost for Baylor is now north of $250 M and the loss of prestige for Texas largest Baptist University is severe. Back in the day, Baylor was hopelessly outgunned in football by powerhouses Arkansas, UT Austin, and Texas Tech. Finally a limit on the number of scholarships UT could grant, a 40 limit, and the coaches at both UT and Arkansas both promptly retired. A new coach at Baylor, Grant Teaff began winning games and then entire seasons. But the latest success caused Briles to cast all ethical considerations aside. Nice job!

 

Yoshirea Arambula and Paul Pena

Tim Duncan Victim of Fraud

Charles Banks got the confidence of Tim Duncan, as you say, beloved Spurs superstar. But Banks moved the money into improper and fraudulent investments. Duncan lost millions and the SEC agreed. Banks' lawyers were unable to move the trial out of SA, so Banks wisely plead guilty. One can only imagine the furor of an SA jury at their hero being mistreated. Sentencing is June 27 2017 and I am sure will be closely watched in SA. Banks was and is a fool, how did he think he would get away with this?

Anais Arteaga and Alejandro Martinez examine Auto Industry Scandals

VW Diesel Emissions

GM Ignition key failure

Ford, Fires in the Pinto

Toyota Sticky Pedals

The common feature here is that the frauds occur as the companies sacrifice quality for quantity.

As one observer noted, if Toyota gets the size of GM it will probably make the same errors. One would think others in the industry would learn by example, apparently not.As the team observes this is no time for a cost benefit analysis. It is time to do the right thing. And for GM the ignition key problem followed the saddle gas tanks outside the frame on GM pickups a few decades back, again can't one learn?

VW is coming back and at least their problem did not get owners killed.

Cindy Zuniga, Jose Luis Jiminez, Giselle De la Garza

Offshore Banking Sometimes Legal bu Ethically Questionable

The team used the Panama Papers to show just how widespread offshore banking has become. And how Allen Stanford and Boris Johnson used schemes to defraud investors.

My solution wold be for countries to lower spending and tax rates so individuals and companies would not feel robbed of their earnings. But I am not expecting that any time soon.