By Marley Malenfant/se news editor

When it comes to doing the right thing, SE Campus business instructor Monica Wilson tells students what’s best.

Many of the SE students at her recent ethics seminar were business or accounting majors.

SE student Nancy Nicks said she went to the seminar because her workplace was unethical.

“I had to quit my job due to guidelines that my boss didn’t follow,” she said. “I wanted to see if there was anything here I should have known that didn’t make me have to quit my job. My boss was doing things wrong, and when I confronted him, he said it’s either him or me and who’s going to believe me. And he was right.”

Wilson said being ethical is knowing right from wrong.

“I have two daughters, and I tell them that ethics is doing the right thing when no one is around you,” she said. “If you’re in a store and you steal something, your conscious should be telling you it is unethical.”

Wilson said that bad ethics often occur in business.

“You should always report something that isn’t right,” she said. “Sexual harassment, bribery, looting, spreading rumors are all things that can hurt you in the professional world.”

Wilson said that people who use violence to discipline their children are unethical. 

“My husband and I used to own a day care for eight years,” she said. “We had this kid come in everyday and see bruises on him. We found out who the kid’s guardian was, and we called CPS. You can’t spank, hit or embarrass a child. That’s not discipline.”

SE student Evan Edward said the seminar gave him an idea of what to expect in the business world.

“It surprises me the wrong that people do in a professional setting,” he said. “I’m a business major, so I know what to look out for in the future.”

SE student John Cesca said ethics are overlooked.

“I don’t think people understand how important being ethical really is,” he said. “If someone is doing wrong, they’re not just hurting themselves, but they’re hurting people they’re affiliated with.”