Former NASA Astronaut Danny Olivas encouraged students to vote during his visit to Cal Poly for Astronauts for America’s or AFA, Vote for Freedom college tour. AFA created the event to prompt students to vote prior to the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Hosted by the Cal Poly Journalism Department, the event was held at the Advanced Technology Laboratory (Bldg. 007) and included an open discussion about the importance of voting and civic engagement between Olivas and Alex Cohen, an assistant journalism professor and Spectrum News anchor. The conversation was followed by a student Q&A.
READ MORE: Former NASA astronaut to visit Cal Poly for voting and civic engagement event
AFA is a nonpartisan nonprofit organized by former NASA astronauts, designed to uphold Constitutional principles and promote civic participation. The organization’s Vote for Freedom tour expands on this mission with it projected to reach students from 25 campuses across the nation prior to the Nov. 3 general elections.
As an AFA co-founder, Olivas emphasized the value of American students exercising their right to vote and how freedom should be used to effect change in society.Â
“We’re asking all voting age citizens to engage, learn about the issues, challenge assumptions, listen to people who disagree with you, by the way, and decide what you believe,” Olivas said. “And then make your voices heard on Nov. 3 or when elections are available to you.”
Participants had the opportunity to connect and speak with Olivas individually following the conclusion of the student Q&A, where he answered questions about his career path and its influence on his political objectives for AFA.
“When you think about what your vote is, when you think about what you can do for this country, just recognize it’s about getting involved,” Olivas said. “Just look at that with that rocket engine. There’s no one part more important than the other.”
Professor Cohen, who was inspired by AFA’s activism when she connected with them through meeting Olivas earlier this year, arranged Olivas’ visit to Cal Poly.
Journalism sophomore Hudson Meyer attended the event for a class, but she said Olivas’ connections as both an astronaut and engaged citizen helped reframe her views on the modern political climate of America.
“I liked when he was talking about how from space, nothing is visibly divided by states, borders or political parties,” Meyer said. “That really resonated with me because it reminded me that despite the evident polarization with current political systems in the U.S., all of us need to figure out a way to reconnect with our humanity and help one another.”