Junius Wright is applying for a position with a federal contractor. Junius was a member of the Communist party for 2 years during college. A question on the application asks, "Have you ever been a member of an organization that supported subversive activity against the United States?" Junius answers "no" because in his chapter, no one ever discussed activity against the United States. Which of the following statements is correct?
A) Junius has answered the question truthfully.
B) Junius could not make a mistake in answering either way because of the question's ambiguity.
C) Junius has the goal of getting a job and answering the question with a "yes" is unethical because it could deprive him of that goal.
D) Junius should make the disclosure of his membership.

Question

Junius Wright is applying for a position with a federal contractor. Junius was a member of the Communist party for 2 years during college. A question on the application asks, "Have you ever been a member of an organization that supported subversive activity against the United States?"   Junius answers "no" because in his chapter, no one ever discussed activity against the United States. Which of the following statements is correct?
A) Junius has answered the question truthfully.
B) Junius could not make a mistake in answering either way because of the question's ambiguity.
C) Junius has the goal of getting a job and answering the question with a "yes" is unethical because it could deprive him of that goal.
D) Junius should make the disclosure of his membership.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Junius should disclose his membership in the Communist party, regardless of whether or not his chapter discussed activities against the United States. The question specifically asks about membership in an organization that supported subversive activity against the United States, and being a member of the Communist party during the Cold War era could reasonably be seen as supporting subversive activity against the US. Even if the intention is to secure a job, answering untruthfully could have legal and ethical consequences.

Junius Wright Is Applying for a Position with a Federal