At College Democrats Convention, Young Voters Show A New Mandate:

At the College Democrats of America convention this past weekend in Columbia, South Carolina, it was obvious that young progressives are not only ready for change, we're hungry for it. When it comes to issues like college tuition and Iraq, young voters are looking forward to 2008 as a change election. With over 500 student delegates, many who drove cross-country to attend, the three front-running Democrats for president each had their day to talk about the issues that matter most to us. Senator Clinton spoke about creating a Public Service Academy to reinvigorate young people's interest to serve. Senators Edwards and Obama both spoke passionately about fixing the crisis in college loans. What campaigns have come to realize is that College Democrats aren't just the people they call for volunteers anymore. Today, we are a constituency whose members play a pivotal role in putting progressive leaders in office.

We realize that in order for our issues to matter in 2008, we must prove that we have a new mandate -- that not only do our volunteer hours matter, but our votes do as well. In 2006, student turnout at the University of Connecticut rose 700% from 2002 to ensure Rep. Joe Courtney's victory by 83 votes. At Ohio State University, College Democrats doubled the student turnout on campus from 2,500 in 2002 to 4,500 in 2006. Youth turnout overall in Montana was up 130%. All across the country, College Democrats have proven that we're energized and ready to do the hard work. But politicians must remember that promises made to our generation are promises to keep.

Promises to keep means continuing to push the Republicans to change their reckless policies in Iraq. For as much as politicians like to talk about sacrifice, it's young people that are paying the price of this war. The average casualty age for our soldiers in Iraq is 21 years old -- the same time students are choosing their majors. Tragically, young people's lives are ending when they should be deciding on their future.

Promises to keep means that we do more than just pay lip service towards rising college tuition. Politicians should follow the call of leaders like Rep. George Miller of California, who fights day and night to restore the Republicans' deep cuts in Pell Grants. But we need more than just the voices of a few. We need all of those who stand for us to make our voices heard in our government. The paycheck-to-paycheck lives that we live, the overwhelming amount of debt that we incur, all fit into a larger narrative of the growing middle-class squeeze.

So in 2008, College Democrats are looking for something more. We're looking to work for and elect politicians who keep their promises to our generation. We're looking for leaders with bold ideas and the skill to bring them to reality. We're ready for change - but we want promises to be kept.