Ralph Nader's Visit to Valencia

Only Valencia students, faculty and staff who read their Atlas email would have known that 4-time Presidential Candidate, Ralph Nader was on campus Thursday afternoon. The East Campus Performing Arts Center was filled to the max, with fans hoping to be inspired by his life as a US citizen who advocated for more than 40 non-profit organizations.

Ralph Nader’s messages have been an inspiration to Valencia’s Graphics program for many years. If you utilize the East Campus Graphics Lab in 1-213, you might have even noticed a faded and aged 2004 post-election cover of the Orlando Weekly facetiously stating “NADER WINS!” taped onto a cabinet in the small storage room next to Dennis Santspree’s office. Dennis will be the first person to admit out loud that his vote went to Presidential Candidate Nader that year causing this Orlando Weekly cover to bring a smile to his face for the past 7 years it’s graced our walls.

Needless to say, Mr. Nader’s visit to campus was a great opportunity to have him autograph Dennis Santspree’s 7-year-old memorabilia! (photos courtesy of Sue Thompson, with the Global Peace Rally):

Mr. Nader was so pleased to see the Orlando Weekly memorabilia he, along with his colleague and 2008 campaign organizer, Matthew Zawisky requested a copy. We were, naturally, inclined to oblige and quickly scanned the autographed copy to reprint and send. In the meantime, Dennis plans to have the now more valuable piece of newsprint memorabilia properly framed and displayed.

As visual communicators, designers often seek to utilize their expertise to accomplish the same. Whether it be through visual advocacy, branding for non-profits and even just generating awareness for issues and organizations in need. Often times, advocate designers feel strongly enough about the issue at task to offer their services pro-brono as a way to assist the cause. There are many designer advocates setting a great example for how visual communicators can utilize their craft to advocate for change. To name a few: Randy Hunt aka. Citizen Scholar, Poster for Tomorrow and AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts).

Mr. Nader’s hope is to leave behind the instilled desire to be active citizens who make a difference in the lives of those who are in need by being politically involved citizens.