Shepherd University Professor of History Samuel Greene, left, chats with former United States Congressman Beto O’Rourke in the Byrd Center auditorium on Monday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Former United States Congressman Beto O’Rourke took Shepherdstown by storm, when he made a two-day stop for a series of speaking engagements earlier this week. O’Rourke founded and currently leads Powered by People, a Texas-based organization that works to expand democracy and produce Democratic victories through voter registration and direct voter engagement.

On Sunday evening, O’Rourke was the special guest at a benefit reception for the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History & Education in the Bavarian Inn. On Monday afternoon, he then spoke in a moderated discussion with Shepherd University students and community members in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History & Education auditorium. On Monday evening, O’Rourke finished his visit to Shepherdstown in the Frank Arts Center Theater, where he discussed and signed copies of his book, “We’ve Got to Try: How the Fight for Voting Rights Makes Everything Else Possible.”

According to Byrd Center Director James Broomall, this series of events came about, in major part due to the owner of Four Seasons Books.

“This event’s involved many different actors. The most important actor is Kendra Goldsborough. Kendra has been incredibly generous to the Byrd Center,” Broomall said on Monday afternoon.

“Through Kendra’s vision and generosity, the events that have unfolded yesterday and will be unfolding today have been made possible through Kendra.”

Shepherd University students make their way into the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History & Education on Monday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

Originally, Monday night’s book signing had been slated to be held where many popular book signings are held, in the Byrd Center auditorium. But after learning that a larger than average number of people were planning on attending the event, it was moved to the Frank Arts Center Theater.

Monday afternoon’s moderated discussion was added to the series of events at the end of February, due to popular demand. A larger than average number of Shepherd students attended this event, which may have had something to do with the fact that O’Rourke is active on the popular social media platform, TikTok. On TikTok, he posts videos on the importance of democracy and the need for voters to be engaged with the political process.

“Action is the antidote to despair. It’s the key to victory. You’ll never get there watching everybody else. You’ll never get there worrying. You’ll never get there being anxious. In fact, you can drive yourself to despair. That’s another consequence of social media — it kind of deepens our despair, what we see through these feeds,” O’Rourke said. “On the other hand, when I’m out registering people to vote, I feel so fulfilled. I feel like I have a purpose on the planet — that this is what I’m supposed to do. I have agency, which so improves my attitude and my optimism over what’s happening to me. When we’re happening to it, we’re in such a better position.”

In lieu of his positive viewpoint of voter registration, the League of Women Voters of Jefferson County (LWVJC) was on hand at both of Monday’s events to help attendees sign up to vote, if they hadn’t done so already. They were also seeking to encourage those already registered to vote to commit to voting in this year’s municipal, primary and general elections.

“People have registered to vote, and then they don’t vote. That’s what really needs to be pushed and encouraged,” said LWVJC member Rie Wilson. “It would be very easy to give up, but I can’t do it!”

Byrd Center Director James Broomall closes the question-and-answer portion of Monday afternoon’s event with Beto O’Rourke in the center’s auditorium. Tabitha Johnston