TEACHING ETHICS THROUGHOUT THE CURRICULUM

Case 44. Collegial Confidentiality

Situation

Professor Mary Catherine Dunn is chatting informally with Roger Furness, a student, about his coursework experiences in the Department. Roger mentions that one of the things he likes best is the diversity of the faculty and the culture of tolerance in the Department. This isn't at all like the culture of his neighborhood, he muses: "Like, all the students know that Professor Morgan is gay and it's just cool." Professor Morgan is a  friend of yours. You know that he is, in fact, gay, but that he prefers to keep this fact private.
          
(based on a case in The Ethics of Teaching)

Questions

1.    What are the implications of your ignoring the student's remark?
2.    If you choose to speak about Professor Morgan's sexual orientation with this student, what tack do you take?
3.    What is your obligation to Professor Morgan?



     Reflect on the above questions and form your own answers before clicking the Discussion key to review the commentary provided with this case.