David Callahan added a broader perspective to Honor and Integrity Week on Tuesday when he spoke about the decline of ethics in America.
"To quote a famous football coach, 'Winning isn't everything, winning is the only thing,'" Callahan said. "This is increasingly becoming America's new motto."
In his speech, Callahan, the author of "The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans Are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead," examined why law-abiding individuals are cutting corners. He said the majority of unethical acts are committed by people who are otherwise socially responsible.
"Why are we a morally bipolar nation?" he asked an audience in the Toy Lounge of Dey Hall. "America has two separate moral compasses - one guiding social issues, the other guiding money and career choices."
Callahan attributed the rise of cheating in American culture to several factors.
He pointed out that teen pregnancy and drug use have dropped in the past decade, but that a 2002 study of high school students showed that 74 percent admit to cheating - a 13 percent increase from a decade ago.
Callahan said the loss of integrity in America is a result of the increasing competitiveness of society.
"America has become a society increasingly enthralled with wealth and success," he said. "You are constantly reminded that everyone else has more than you."
This envy of money has led people to be more willing to cheat to succeed in areas ranging from sports and corporate America to the classroom, he said.
