Indiana State University Newsroom

A once rising star of the financial industry who served two years in federal prison for wire fraud and a discussion on an individual's right to die will be among the highlights of the upcoming Ethics Conference at Indiana State University.

Organized by juniors in the Networks Financial Institute's Professional Development Program, the 10th annual conference will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 4.

"We want people to realize that ethics is important and impacts people every day," said Kate Arndt, a junior finance major from Westmont, Ill. and a conference planning team leader. "No one is immune to it."

A lesson that highlights an extreme ethical lapse will be highlighted by keynote speaker John Borbi, a former financial advisor who was convicted of wire fraud in 2004. Borbi managed nearly $100 million dollars for his clients and generated an income of $500,000 until the stock market crashed in 2001. To cover up his clients' losses, Borbi began transferring assets illegally until he was caught by a client. Borbi was convicted of wire fraud in 2004.

Having served a two-year sentence in federal prison for his actions, Borbi will discuss how bad decisions led to his ethical downfall and reshaped his future ever since. He will speak exclusively with local business professionals at 8:30-10 a.m. March 4 before talking with students at noon in Hulman Memorial Student Union, Dede I.

Another feature of the Ethics Conference will be a speaker panel, "The Right to Die", on March 3. The professional panel will examine the ethics of physician assisted suicide at 7 p.m. in Dede I. The panel will include Dr. Jim Turner, medical director of the Richard G. Lugar Center for Rural Health at Union Hospital.

In addition to handling the fundraising, marketing and logistics for the conference, twelve students have been responsible for securing the event's speakers who will discuss ethics in a variety of areas, including music, medicine and law, to show the wide-reaching impact morals have on people's lives.

"We want students to realize that ethics isn't just found in business, but is something that impacts all areas," said Mitchell Wasmund, a junior finance major from Avon who is helping plan the conference.

People may also follow the Ethics Conference on Twitter @ISUEthicsConf.

Writer: Betsy Simon, media relations assistant director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-7972 or Betsy.Simon@indstate.edu