Although the next presidential election is not until November 2008, college students are already starting to become heavily involved on campuses across the country.

Andrew Gordon, chair of University of Wisconsin Students for Barack Obama, said students are filled with "energy and passion" and that young people are "excited by the prospect of change."

Many young people are perceived as apathetic, according to Gordon, but he said early involvement across the country is "inspiring people's faith in democracy."

"Young people are getting involved and talking about change," Gordon said. "There is a light at the end of the tunnel."

Gordan said his organization is planning on going to Iowa to campaign for that state's primary, as well as organizing phone campaigns from Madison.

Although they have yet to endorse a candidate, UW College Republicans chair Sara Mikolajczak said regardless of the political party, college students have the potential to have a major effect on the election.

"A lot of people don't realize that if we get college students to vote, it can make a huge difference — both locally and nationally," Mikolajczak said, adding that she thinks there are good candidates in both parties and she is excited to see how the election works out.

Jeff Barker, spokesperson for presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, said campus organizations take an active roll in elections, and many college students spent their summer interning for various candidates across the country.

"College students have enthusiasm and ability to organize grassroot efforts, as well as play an important roll in getting the word out and getting the message effectively communicated," Barker said.

Barker added that nontraditional grassroots activities — including online social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook — will make for an interesting election.

Ben LaBolt, press secretary for Barack Obama, agreed, and told The Badger Herald these online sites are a way to share campaign ideas with a much broader audience.

"This is not a campaign that is just fundraising on the Internet," LaBolt said, adding websites provide an active organizing tool for student groups nationally, describing the Internet as an important communications tool.

Others are skeptical of the effect college students have on political campaigns, however.

UW political science professor Kenneth Mayer said while there will undoubtedly be a well-organized campaign team for every presidential candidate on large university campuses across the country, there are not enough voters in any area to cause a major effect.

But there are some benefits to campaigns on college campuses, Mayer said, including "a lot of motivated young voters who are concentrated, so they're fairly easy to reach."

Mayer said just because presidential campaign teams have been organized in the past does not mean they are essential to a successful election.

Mayer added that while campus organizations do not hinder a campaign, benefits are minimal.

"There's a limit to how much you're going to accomplish by targeting college students," Mayer said.