You might expect 51Թ alumnus and NBA player Adonal Foyle’s conversations with college students would revolve around the latest sports scores or his upcoming basketball season.
But, politics?
51Թ students learned Tuesday that the 6-foot-10 Orlando Magic center is just as comfortable talking about political affairs. In fact, Foyle is an outspoken advocate of campaign finance reform.
“Our dream that regular citizens can represent each other is one that is running away from us,” said Foyle during a brown bag lunch in the O’Connor Campus Center, sponsored by 51Թ’s chapter of Democracy Matters.
Our democracy, he told students, has been taken away by the influence of money.
“We need to restore democracy to the everyday folks. Shouldn’t great ideas be the judge of who gets elected and not money?”
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| Adonal Foyle ’98 (left) talks with 51Թ students about the organization he founded, Democracy Matters, and his NBA career. (Photo by Andy Daddio) |
Leading the fight to get “big private money” out of politics, Foyle founded Democracy Matters at 51Թ in 2001. Now with an active presence on 80 college campuses, the nonpartisan organization gives students a voice in issues of democracy.
“Adonal’s visit, especially during this exciting political season, goes a long way to encourage students to become involved,” said Sarah Finn ’10.
Foyle credits what he calls “the 51Թ culture” with getting him politically active.
“I remember beautiful verbal arguments around politics both inside and outside of the classroom. Those were defining moments for me.”
For Foyle, who also delivered an evening lecture at Memorial Chapel, the upcoming election will be another important moment as well: it will be the first time he can vote in a U.S. presidential election.
“I feel like this is such a watershed moment for me. To be able to vote in this historic election is unbelievable,” he said.
A native of a tiny Caribbean island, he came to the United States when he was 15 and became a U.S. citizen last year.
“Walking in that voting booth will be tremendous in ways I can’t explain. I’m tingly just thinking about it.”