FAIRMONT — The Fairmont State University Debate Team will host a free public debate on labor policy on March 23 at the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center.
The event, “Work, Rights, and Power: A Public Debate on Labor Policy,” will examine issues including worker protections, collective bargaining, wages and the role of government in the workplace. Students, faculty and community members are invited to attend.
Fairmont State participates in College Policy Debate through the Cross Examination Debate Association. This year’s national topic focuses on labor and workers’ rights, including workplace protections, economic inequality and potential reforms to federal labor laws.
“At Fairmont State, we believe civil discourse is not just an ideal, but a discipline — one that is essential to the health of a democratic society,” said University President Mike Davis. “The best debate does not silence disagreement; it teaches us how to engage it with rigor, evidence, and respect. Events like this public debate challenge our students and our community to listen carefully, think critically, and defend their ideas with clarity and integrity. At a moment when too much public conversation is driven by division rather than understanding, creating space for thoughtful, principled argument is one of the most important things a university can do.”
Dr. Samantha Godbey, Director of Fairmont State’s Civics Institute and Debate Team Coach, said the topic has direct relevance beyond the debate community.
“Collective bargaining is not an abstract policy issue — it affects the daily lives of workers, families, and communities across the country, including right here on our own campus,” Godbey said. “Wages, workplace safety, job security, and benefits are shaped by the ability of workers to organize and negotiate together. This debate gives our students the opportunity to examine one of the most important questions in modern labor policy while practicing the skills that define civic engagement: research, critical thinking, and respectful disagreement.”
Godbey also encouraged the campus community to show up in support of the debaters.
“Our debaters have spent the entire school year studying the law, the economics of labor markets, and the real experiences of workers in the United States in order to present thoughtful and evidence-based arguments,” she said. “I hope members of our campus community will join us, not only to support the students who have worked so hard to prepare, but also to engage in an important conversation about the future of work and democracy in our society.”
The event is free and open to all. For more information, visit engage.fairmontstate.edu/event/11988377.
