November 8, 2021

The history of vaccination mandates in the U.S., and the public response to them, will be the topic of an event at Delta College.

The college’s Political Forum Committee will host a distinguished panel on November 18 for the free event, “Mandatory Vaccination and the Workplace: Legality, Labor and Liberty,” from 7-8:30pm on Zoom. Registration is required at delta.edu/workplacevaccine.

Lisa Lawrason, chair of the Political Forum Committee and professor of political science, said the purpose of the forum is to give the Delta community diverse perspectives on pressing issues that affect everyday lives.

“With the Biden administration's vaccine requirements going into effect soon, people have a lot of questions about such mandates and how its implementation will impact area businesses,” Lawrason said. “Having perspective and depth on these issues will help us make decisions and contribute to our democracy in the most productive way possible.”

Panelists include Lance Gable, professor of law for Wayne State University; James Hitt, professor of philosophy for Saginaw Valley State University; Beth Roszatycki, regional director of the Michigan Small Business Development Center; and Andrew Wehrman, professor of history for Central Michigan University. Audra Swarthout, professor of biology for Delta, will moderate the discussion.

The forum will explore the constitutionality of vaccine mandates, including the use of executive power to enact them and the practical impact of mandates on employers and the workforce. The panel will not address or debate the safety of vaccines.

Since 2007, Delta has hosted an annual political forum to engage the community in a dialogue about current events and issues.

To register or learn more, visit delta.edu/workplacevaccine. 

Written by Leah Twilley, Communications Specialist.