After a weeklong series of activities, Eastern Michigan
University's College of Business (COB) concluded its celebration
of the fourth annual Ethos Week with a luncheon that attracted
more than 400 guests.
"This is an incredible week that started off with WJR's
Paul W. Smith show at the College of Business, and then
followed by inviting everyone to sign an Ethos banner," said
David Mielke, dean of the college, as he recapped events.
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ETHOS WEEK KEYNOTE: Robert Bobb, emergency
financial manager for the Detroit Public Schools,
makes a point during the Ethos Week Luncheon in
the Student Center Ballroom March 19. Bobb was the
keynote
speaker for the event.
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The week also featured various speakers, who addressed
such topics as "Ethics and International Business," Ethics
and the Media," "Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability," Ethics
and Entrepreneurship," "Ethics and Marketing Research," and "Ethics:
The Fourth Dimension."
Mielke explained that ethos refers to the character, fundamental
values or the spirit of a group. The College's Ethos Statement
stresses its six underlying values: integrity, honesty,
trustworthiness, respect, learning and work ethic.
Robert C. Bobb, emergency financial manager for the Detroit
Public Schools, was the keynote speaker at the Ethos Week
Luncheon, which took place in the Student Center Ballroom
March 19. He has served in his position of the 87,000-student
Detroit Public Schools since March 2009.
Bobb opened his remarks by complimenting the University
for its emphasis on ethics throughout the business curriculum.
He then provided a historical look at ethics, citing traditional
scholars like Aristotle, Plato and St. Thomas Augustine.
"These scholars stressed the importance of ethical behavior,
character, beliefs and customs, and the concepts of faith,
hope and charity," Bobb said. "These traits are critical
even today because leadership should subscribe to the highest
tenets of ethos."
"All leaders must subscribe to these three concepts in
discharging our duties," said Bobb. "We must protect and
never compromise the rights of the people and institutions."
Bobb added that there must be transparency in conducting
business because people are morally persuaded by those
they trust.
One example of moral persuasion cited dealt with former
president Richard Nixon's unethical actions that led to
his famous 1952 "Checkers" speech, Bobb said. He recounted
how many Americans believed Nixon had an aversion to the
truth and that he had accepted (illegal) gifts. To
combat those beliefs, the president went on the offensive.
"In a half-hour speech, Nixon developed a persuasive
response to his critics," said Bobb. "It was an excellent
use of pathos or emotional appeal, where he challenged
the chargers."
Twenty-one-years later, Nixon's character was impugned
again during Watergate, he added. There was an entangled
web of lies by those involved with Watergate that was supported
by law.
"Public and private offices must be in the vanguard of
conducting themselves with ethical behavior," Bobb said.
Now that Bobb is emergency financial manager for Detroit,
he's facing a number of serious problems. He was surprised
to discover there wasn't a code of ethics for the more
than 15,000 employees of the Detroit Public Schools. He
found that he inherited a "system with multiple problems
where guidelines and a code of ethics were (considered)
inconsequential."
"A code of ethics acts as a check and balance," Bobb said. "Checks
and balances must always be in place to ensure that we
walk lock step in ethical conduct. We must also enforce
the provisions. Guardians of public trust must be honest."
Nicholas Manica, a senior from Northville, Mich., was
one of the many students attending the luncheon. He said
he enjoyed Bobb's speech.
"It was a good speech, and I was especially encouraged
by his use of Aristotle and other traditional scholars
that have been upheld as ethical luminaries," said Manica,
24.
Manica's mother, Renee, believes that respect and honesty
are essential for young men and women entering the workforce.
"All of these things have been forgotten. They have to
come back," she said.
Sandy Eiler, president of Eiler Communications in Ann
Arbor, Mich., agreed.
"I think Bobb hit it right on the truth of the matter," Eiler
said. "There is a prevailing culture of people not telling
the truth in business and government. It's 'Who can you
trust and do you trust them?' It's pretty sad."
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm hired Bobb as emergency
financial manager and recently extended his contract through
March 1, 2011.
Bobb has more than 30 years of executive management experience
in both the private and public sectors. He is owner, president
and CEO of the LAPA Group, LLC, a multi-faceted private/public
sector consulting firm.
A former city administrator and deputy mayor for Washington,
D.C., he also was elected as president of the Washington
D.C. Board of Education in 2006. His extensive experience
includes serving as the District of Columbia's Homeland
Security Adviser; city manager of Oakland, Calif.; executive
director of the Oakland Redevelopment Agency and city
manager for Richmond, Virginia.
He holds the record for having served as the longest tenured
African-American city manager/city administrator in the
nation.
