A crowd of nearly 80 people came out last night to HUB Alumni Hall for a rally to combat voter apathy among college-age adults in Centre County.

The voter empowerment event, cosponsored by the Penn State College Democrats, Womyn's Concerns and several other campus organizations, was held in an effort to persuade students to start using their voting powers, said JoAnna Hughes, College Democrats vice president.

Several speakers came before the crowd to implore students to vote in next month's election. Some -- such as Centre County Commissioner Scott Conklin -- used the controversial 13.5 percent tuition increase that hit Penn State this year as a sticking point for their argument.

"The men you elect, they not only set your tuition costs, but your living costs," Conklin said.

Kevin Washo, president of the University of Pittsburgh's student government, also spoke before the assembled crowd. He said his appearance was meant to show a sense of solidarity between the rival Pennsylvania universities.

Students across the state, Washo said, should forge a student association that would allow state schools such as Penn State, Pittsburgh and Temple to work closely with legislators and university administrators on issues affecting students -- specifically when it comes to raising tuition.

"If students are organized [across Pennsylvania], it will be very important to the November election," Washo said. "The one unifying factor all across this Commonwealth is tuition."

Pittsburgh councilman Sala Udin was emphatic during his speech, pounding the podium repeatedly and demanding students come out in record numbers to the polls.

The democrat said there are many registered student voters, but the number of college students voting is extremely low.

"The numbers always stand out because you always see a large number of people in that voting age, but then it's contrasted by a very large number of those who do not turn out," Udin said. "You cannot afford to be complacent ... As a student, it doesn't get any more bread and butter than what you pay to go to school."

The rally, advertised by organizers as "nonpartisan," was decidedly pro-Democrat. Campaign paraphernalia for democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed Rendell was strewn about the room. Also, Udin led the crowd in a prolonged chant for Rendell's ascension into the governor's office.

"It's a little ambiguous, yes," Hughes said of the event's "nonpartisan" billing. "As long as the message gets out, I'll be happy."

Several members of the university community attended to lend support to the rally's aim.

"The idea is to have students come out, no matter who the candidate is," said Vice President for Student Affairs William Asbury. "Students don't get out ... But maybe they'll hear something they like -- or they don't like -- and it may get them to say, 'I don't want that person representing me.' "

Anesha Ali, Black Caucus communications chair, said she was slightly disappointed the rally failed to touch on more pressing campus issues such as diversity. But overall, she felt it was a success.

"In regards to students [voting], I think it helped," she said.