Case Name :      Striking at the Queen

Authors :           Carolyn Conn, Aundrea K. Guess

Source :             North American Case Research Association (NACRA)

Case ID :            NA0158

Discipline :        Business Ethics

Case Length :    20 pages

Solution sample availability : YES

Plagiarism : NO (100% Original work)

The focus of this case is a series of ethical dilemmas faced by three undergraduate students, in their pursuit of solutions to perceived mismanagement, financial misdeeds, and possible fraud by their university’s administrators. After Calvin Collins, Kent Russell, and Daniel Morris (who became known as the Tech-3) accidentally found confidential university payroll records discarded in a non-secure area, they took the records and their concerns to several administrators. Because they were rebuffed by university officials, the students “went public” to the news media and on to the state capitol. After their public cry for the resignation of the university president, the three students were put on probation and two of the three were arrested on criminal charges. University administrators attempted to break up the solidarity of the three students. After several months of “fighting the good fight,” several enticements were offered to Collins by a university trustee. Collins must decide whether to accept the enticements and persuade his friends they should give up their fight to improve conditions at the university. If they continue to demand change, they would be going against extremely challenging obstacles. The administration make it impossible for them to complete their degrees. Continuing their battle will involve much personal sacrifice. Was it time for the students to give up? Had they already gone too far?