The Elon University Accounting Society held its first scholarly debate Wednesday, May 5 in Whitley Auditorium.
Two teams of accounting students debated the following issue:
- Resolved: It should be the long-term goal of the accounting profession to regain its role as the principal body authorized to set and enforce auditing, attestation, quality control, and ethics (including independence) standards for auditors of public companies, a task currently charged to the newly formed PCAOB.
Anthony DeGiulian and Erin Gaeng, coached by Buck McGregor, argued the assenting opinion; Ashley and Gillian Stagg, coached by Paula Cardwell, argued the dissenting opinion. Each team argued their position for five minutes, then rebutted their opponents’ position and offered final statements for three minutes. Each team then responded to prepared questions posed by the five judges:
- John Burbridge, Dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business
- Art Cassill, CPA, chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance
- Adam Davis, Accounting Society president
- Scott Williams, CPA, Gilliam Coble & Moser, L.L.P
- W. Joe Foster, CPA, Foster & Dorr, P.C.
The debate was moderated by Linda Poulson, CPA and associate professor of accounting.
Following the debate, the judges’ vote on a winner was 412 to 410 in favor of the dissenting team of Ashley and Gillian Stagg.
Congratulations to all four students, their faculty coaches and the Accounting Society for this outstanding event. Now that the Love School of Business is accredited by AACSB International, the Accounting Society is making the preparations to qualify as a chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the top academic honor society for accounting programs. Events such as this debate are necessary for the Accounting Society to qualify for a chapter.