When Brian Shactman, a University of Wisconsin junior, was in second grade, he spent recess having fun, just like the rest of his classmates. But while other children played, Shactman got his thrills collecting quarters to donate to the Clinton campaign, which his father worked on.

Now, as chairman of the UW College Democrats, he has come a long way from collecting change.

"It's not always about politics, it's about people, and forming a strong organization," Shactman, a political science major, said. "We really try to go out and talk to people about the issues they care about. So many people say students don't care, students don't vote and on the UW-Madison campus that's just not true."

Shactman came to UW from Boston and joined College Democrats as a freshman, working his way up to presidency in two short years.

In this position, Shactman oversees approximately 700 student members and it is his responsibility to promote Democratic candidates on campus through student outreach, speakers and events.

"It's an honor, really," Shactman said of his role as chairman. "It's been great, I feel like [College Democrats] is an organization that really makes a difference."

Working in this position, Shactman will attend the Democratic state convention in Milwaukee this weekend, but he said he is most excited about his group's work with former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., and his college outreach program, "Opportunity Rocks."

The program works with college leaders nationwide encouraging students to actively help end poverty.

He and fellow College Democrats plan to accompany Edwards to New Orleans over spring break to work with Habitat for Humanity, rebuilding homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Similarly, last October Schactman and the Democrats brought Edwards to visit the UW campus, which Shactman considers a great success for the organization.

College Democrats also work with various local organizations such as the Wisconsin Public Interest Group, an organization advocating environmental and social issues, and with "Healthy Families, Healthy City," which focuses on getting paid sick-leave for Madison employees.

Besides the many community and political issues Shactman deals with, there are bi-weekly group meetings and board member meetings a few times a month, not to mention the daily work of promoting Democratic candidates on campus.

"College Dems is like a full time job … you definitely have to strike a real balance in terms of classes and having a life," he said. "In the end though, it is so worth it, knowing the difference we have made both across campus and state."

Shactman is also a member of the Wisconsin Democrats, of which UW College Democrats is a branch. He collaborates with both groups to formulate and organize events for student Democrats.

"[Shactman] cares about progressive issues," said College Democrats Activities Chair Ryan Moze. "And [he] is just really committed to making a difference."

Shactman pointed to the last presidential election — when Democratic candidate John Kerry won the vote for the state of Wisconsin in large part because of the college student vote — as evidence of how "students have an impact."