Academy Award-winning actor and Obama supporter Forest Whitaker took the stage in the Reitz Union's Grand Ballroom to a standing ovation and left it to another.
After his speech, people crowded him so forcefully that an announcer asked everyone to "give him just a little bit of room."
Whitaker, who won best actor for his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 movie "The Last King of Scotland," spoke to about 1,000 people for nearly 10 minutes on his impression of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama and encouraged everyone in attendance to vote.
The event, which started about 8 p.m., was free and open to the public.
During his speech, Whitaker said the U.S. is dealing with war, an economic crisis and environmental destruction.
"What happens during times like this is you look for a leader," he said.
Whitaker used the butterfly effect to explain the importance of this year's election.
"When (a butterfly) flaps its wings, change happens across the planet," he said. "Everything is connected. We're all connected. That's what Barack Obama is trying to tell us."
After his speech, Whitaker stayed to watch the first presidential debate on the projector screen in the ballroom.
As the debate started at about 9 p.m., the event took on the appearance of a massive slumber party, with students lounging on the floor around the seats and snacking on pizza, chips and soda. That is, except for the two uniformed police officers at the front of the room.
Students weren't afraid to display their leanings during the debate. They cheered when Obama said he wanted to make college more affordable and jeered when Republican candidate Sen. John McCain mentioned his status as a prisoner of war in his closing remarks.
In a press conference before his speech, Whitaker, who was on a two-day tour of Florida schools, said students in Florida can swing this year's election. President George W. Bush won Florida by only 500 votes in 2000.
He also addressed criticism of politically active celebrities.
"It would be a travesty if Barack Obama doesn't become the president, and I sat idly by in some room watching it happen on a TV screen," he said. "If people interpret that badly, I don't know."
Asked if he would like to portray Obama in a movie, Whitaker said, "I think Will Smith would probably be good."
Leo Laurenceau, a UF psychology and political science senior, said he was surprised by Whitaker's speech.
"He seemed a lot more soft-spoken than I would have imagined but still a powerful speaker," Laurenceau said.
