The League of Women Voters of Centre County is a resource open to all voters, but in this college town the 80-year-old organization is looking for students who want to be politically active.

The League of Women Voters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to promote political responsibility through education. Since the establishment of the first branch in the 1920s, the league has grown into a national organization.

Men shouldn't be fooled by the league's name — it welcomes male members.

"They are some of our most vocal members," Betsy Vogely, the presiding officer of the Centre County league said.

Because the league was established just after suffrage, its original focus was on women and their issues.

The league is looking to get young people involved and increase voter turnout. It is responsible for a number of voter education programs in Centre County.

The organization provides services for voters including registration site set-up and voter information campaigns. Students who attended the Student Involvement Fair last fall probably encountered a league volunteer.

The group also publishes a voter's guide to educate the public about the candidates and prominent issues.

While the league does take definite positions on issues, they also provide a forum for open debate through their Candidate Nights, which are usually held in the fall before a general election.

The league prides itself on hearing both sides of the issue before taking a position and providing the public with the opportunity to do so as well.

The league's official mission statement affirms its commitment to "promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government and to act on selected governmental issues."

The league remains relatively invisible to students despite its involvement in local politics. At Penn State, the league has set up voter registration sites and has handed out thousands of registration forms, yet only one Penn State student is a member of the league.

The league welcomes student participation, despite lack of student initiative.

"They aren't really more difficult to involve. It's just that we have such a short-term relationship," Vogely said.

However, the organization is looking for student involvement on several projects including a new Web site.

The league is also looking for local administrators for their Web site DemocracyNet, or D-Net.

"This is an excellent opportunity for students to get their feet wet in politics," said Susan Nenstiel, executive director of the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters.

An initiative to increase membership among younger voters is under way within the league.

"We have a lot of work to do," Nenstiel said. "A lot of young people don't even know how to vote."