More than 30 years after being released from prison, Daniels still is sharing his story about his life experiences and spoke to students Tuesday in the International Center.

Daniels was sent to Robben Island in 1964 until 1979 for opposing apartheid as a member of the Liberal Party of South Africa. It was during that time when Daniels befriended the popular anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, who also was sentenced to prison for opposing apartheid.

Daniels did have the chance to be released from prison when a couple of judges came to visit him in prison and told him to apologize and promise never to associate himself with anti-apartheid movements, but Daniels wouldn’t hear of it.

“I’m not going to be sorry when I’m fighting evil,” Daniels said.

During the event, Daniels spoke very highly of Mandela, the former South African president, as the students listened attentively to his stories from prison, including stories about Mandela and seeing the stars in the night sky for the first time after years of prison.

Zoology junior Austin Lelle traveled to South Africa in 2010 as a part of a freshman seminar. There, he was able to hear Daniels speak and visited the historical Robben Island.

“At first, it was a lot to take in,” Lelle said. “You couldn’t help (feeling) a lot of sorrow.”

Daniels said one of his most memorable encounters with Mandela came when Daniels was ill and alone in his cell. Mandela personally came to his aid, instead of having one of his many members of his anti-apartheid group look after Daniels.

“He could have instructed any one of these members to come look after (me), but he didn’t,” Daniels said. “He could’ve looked the other way. It’s so easy to look the other way.

“Who was I? I was alone, and this great man comes down to my level, and he helps me. That is something I will never forget.”

Since his release from prison, Daniels became a teacher with degrees he earned while he was in prison, and now shares his story to college students each year. Daniels has been coming to MSU for about 10 years.

Associate Director for Operations in the Office of Study Abroad Cindy Chalou said she has known Daniels for many years, after connecting through the several freshman seminar trips she has been on, and thought students could gain a lot from hearing Daniels speak.

“You can read stuff in books about history,” Chalou said. “When you see somebody go through it (and) experience the challenges (and) struggles, it takes it to a whole new level. We have incredible lessons to learn from him.”