Choosing between Al Gore and George W. Bush is like choosing between a root canal and a cavity filling. You don't really want to do it but you know you have to sometime soon.

Of course, you could vote for the Green Party candidate or the Reform Party candidate, but unfortunately, this often means throwing away your vote as either Bush or Gore will most likely win anyway.

For students wavering between the Republican and Democratic presidential candidate, however, the process of choosing which candidate to support may be harder than simply comparing their campaign platforms and presidential goals.

Bush needs to more clearly outline his plans for policy changes. During the past week, it seems as if he has been reacting to Gore's statements instead of making the first moves.

He can make the first moves by better explaining what his plans are and how they will benefit Americans. Bush has big ideas but it doesn't seem as if he has thought out the specific steps he needs to take to achieve them.

For example, Bush spoke about his commitment to education during the GOP Convention but he hasn't specifically outlined what he wants to do about the myriad of issues and problems surrounding education.

No one is going to argue against the fact that problems in the education system need to be addressed. Student voters need to know who is going to stand for bettering higher education in America and for curbing the ever-increasing tuition costs at universities across the nation.

Also, Gore and Bush need to start standing on their own two feet. Both candidates are too closely tied to the White House in different ways — Gore can't seem to move out of Clinton's shadow and Bush can't seem to shake the perception that his father still tells him what to do.

The American people are voting for a president, not a yes-man. Or has the presidency come to that?

The fact remains, however, that both candidates really aren't that appealing to young voters.

To appeal to us, they need to start focusing more on higher education and controlling rising tuition costs. Young voters deserve their attention as much as special interest groups and powerful lobbying groups.

At the very least, they need to acknowledge the fact that student voters do exist and may help one of them on his way to the White House.

We may not have the money or the power but we still have the vote, and we should use it to our advantage. Ultimately, it is up to us to use our vote and make a difference.