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Online bioethics covers life, death issues

Bill Kabasenche
Bill Kabasenche

By Richard Miller, WSU Global Campus

A lesbian couple wants a baby genetically related to both of them. They’re considering using sperm from one woman’s brother. He just turned 18. Should they ask him?

The situation involved the relative of a Washington State University student. The student asked Bill Kabasenche, WSU assistant professor of philosophy, for advice. He saw a “wild conglomeration” of issues:

  • Is the brother old enough to give informed consent?
  • Is he old enough to become a father?
  • What responsibilities would he have?
  • Why is it important to have genetically related kids?
  • If genetics are that important, then they’d be equally important to the brother, which means he’d have significant responsibilities.
  • Is parenthood fundamentally a relationship of love or of biology?
  • Is the couple using the baby as an instrument to validate the relationship?
  • If people can design their babies, does that replace unconditional love with a sense of comparison shopping?

Kabasenche’s specialty is bioethics. He teaches several courses on the topic and is co-director of the ethics committee at Pullman Regional Hospital. He’s also the force behind WSU’s new online graduate certificate in bioethics. Continue story →

Linda Maule to serve as dean at Indiana State

Linda Maule
Linda Maule

Indiana State University has appointed Washington State University alumna Linda Maule to serve as the dean of the recently founded University College. She has been a faculty member at ISU since 1996 and has served in multiple leadership positions.

Maule earned her Ph.D. in public law and public administration from WSU in 1997. She is a faculty member in the ISU department of political science and women’s studies and has served as the coordinator for the foundational studies program, the co-director and interim director of women’s studies, director of legal studies, and interim chairperson of the sociology department.

“As coordinator of general education and foundational studies programs for the past five years, she is well qualified to lead the development and launch of the University College,” said Jack Maynard, ISU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “She has the passion, enthusiasm, and commitment to be a great dean.”

Read the full story on Maule in Washington State Magazine.