Michelle Obama discussed the importance of Americans voting in this year’s presidential election, especially young voters who traditionally have not turned out in large numbers.

She spoke last week on a conference call with more than 100 members of the college media.

Obama spoke from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, after holding a campaign rally for young voters. During that rally, and the conference call, Obama talked about the importance of the youth involvement in the political process, especially when it comes to voting.

“We need more young people to get involved,” Obama said, “…this election will decide the course of a generation.”

According to Rock the Vote, a nonpartisan voter outreach organization focused on young people, 47 percent of 18-24 year-olds voted in 2004.

“We need to turn that around this year,” said Obama. “Because of these statistics, a lot of campaigns have not taken young voters seriously,” she said.

Obama pointed to how the Democrats were trying to reverse the trend through their campaign’s student chapters: BarackStars, College Democrats and Students for Barack Obama.

She said that regardless of the candidate students support, they should register and make sure their voices are heard.

However, she did not waste the opportunity to discuss the reasons that youth voters should agree with her husband’s stance on current issues.

Although discussions of Iraq, the economy and healthcare came during the call, higher education was the hot-button issue with the university reporters.

Obama, contending that her husband, “represents the change we need,” mentioned the Democrats’ plan to increase the minimum federal Pell Grant, as well as offer a college opportunity credit.

The Obama campaign has promised to reduce the cost of a college education by improving the financial aid process and dedicating more federal funds to students going to college through grants, scholarships and a tax credit. Such a credit would refund $4,000 of college costs to students.

The McCain platform focuses on reforming the financial aid process, while also simplifying tax benefits for families so that they can put their money toward their students’ education.

Senior Kevin Poyner, chairman of the DU College Republicans, said the policy by McCain offers a better solution for lowering college costs, and that the Republican ticket better represents change for students.

Poyner said this is important for college students and their families, and “if done properly,” he said, it “can allow people to take on extra work to help pay for school without being punished with a greater tax burden.”

Regardless of where young voters stand, Obama said they must have a “clear understanding of the issues,” and should get involved.” According to her, 10 million eligible young voters are still not registered.

For those DU students still not registered, there are multiple avenues in which to find voter information, including the campaign Web sites, and RockTheVote.com as well as the nonpartisan Denvervotes.org.

Right here on campus, students may also visit the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning in Driscoll South to learn more about voting and to register.

The deadline to register in Colorado is Monday, Oct. 6.