Photos by Luke Nankivell, photo editor
After a few hiccups early on in the day, the stars of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” made it to Pomerantz Stage to meet Drake University voters.
Rashida Jones and Adam Scott made their first stop in a two-day trip around Iowa universities on Saturday. They spoke to a crowd of about 75 people concerning the importance of voting and going out to support their candidate.
“It’s inspiring to see all of you doing this,” Scott said to the audience.
The two of them joked about possible hostile situations that could occur during canvassing for a candidate during the big Cy-Hawks game.
“The main thing we’re trying to get out though, is early voting,” Scott said. “This is incredibly important work you’re doing here today, to spread the word of Sept. 27 being the first day that early voting starts.”
Jones told the crowd they were “awesome” and thanked them for the dedication they have.
The two actors encouraged the students to tell their friends to go out and vote and canvass their communities to help register voters.
In an interview with The Times-Delphic, Jones said she was out encouraging college students to vote because there are a lot issues that are important to students.
They also said coming out to Iowa universities was important because Iowa is a swing state.
“Iowa, historically holds so much weight, with the caucus and with the early voting, and I think they really do send a message to the rest of the country,” Jones said. “All eyes are on Iowa, I think, all the time when it comes to an election.”
Scott added that it was inspiring to see how involved Iowa voters are in elections.
The two of them also wanted to reach the voter base outside of the realm of the Internet.
“There’s just something about connecting with people personally that is impossible to do on the Internet,” Jones said.
After leaving Drake, Jones and Scott headed to Iowa State and the University of Northern Iowa. Yesterday they finished up their two-day trip in Cedar Rapids and the University of Iowa.
The meet and greet was sponsored by Bulldogs for Barack.