With the war on terror, the war in Iraq, the stock and job markets on the mend and financial aid taking a hit, college students should have a vested interest in the upcoming election.

But that’s just the problem, the age bracket college students call home (18-25) is one of the most apathetic age groups among the voting population. Just take a look at News q’s on page five. Go ahead, flip back. Of the eight people interviewed, five are not registered to vote. That’s apathy in the flesh.

The presidential candidates are running their campaigns based on the lack of enthusiasm of youth voters. Some candidates, such as Rev. Al Sharpton, are throwing parties with rap moguls to harness the so-called “hip-hop” vote, which is estimated to be somewhere in the millions. You think Clinton would have been disclosing his undergarment preference if political analysts didn’t understand just how powerful we could be? Just look at the way in which this population is described, “youth” vote. How old are we anyway … 12?

But the way college students are portrayed and viewed by the general public and the candidates will not change overnight. In fact, it will not change until college students stand up and take action. Although candidates recognize our power, they also understand our apathy. Someday, if not today, you will care about what goes on in that little building on Pennsylvania Avenue. Have questions on how to get involved? Register to vote … try that one on for size.

What exactly is this source of apathy, one might wonder. Visit any political science, philosophy or basketweaving class, and opinions run rampant throughout the class period. It isn’t that we don’t have ideas or beliefs that we wholly believe in, it’s just getting to the voting booth that seems to be an issue.

Of the 26.9 million 18 to 25-year-old American citizens who are eligible to vote, 9.9 million did so, according to the Center for Information ‘ Research on Civic Learning ‘ Engagement.

That is just not good enough.

And to those who say the issues at hand do not apply to them … think again. As Northeastern’s tuition continues to rise year by year and financial aid being crucial to many students, guess what? Federal financial aid was slashed this year.

Get angry. Go and vote.

Can’t get a co-op job? Welcome to the real world, where the unemployment rate is rising as well.

Get concerned. Go and vote.

Each week more young men and women are dying overseas. If you read these soldier’s obituaries, many of the dead enlisted as soon as they graduated from high school. They are your peers.

The war and foreign policy is an issue for college students. Students from your high school are overseas, fighting for you and the safety of your families. Forget the clich