When it comes to Social Security, Penn Staters say they are going to worry about it later.

Though many students chose not to comment because they were uninformed about the topic or just did not care about it, those who were thinking about Social Security do not consider it to be a deciding factor in this year's presidential race.

Shannon Hunter (freshman-business management) said she is not too concerned about the issue.

"At the moment, it doesn't concern me, but I want it eventually," she said.

Luke Havrilla (sophomore-architecture), a supporter of Sen. John Kerry, agreed. "As much as I would like to be, I'm not really concerned with it," he said. "Right now I'm focusing on the war and stuff like that. Social Security is kind of last on my list, but I think college students should have it in their heads."

Amber Atchley (sophomore-mechanical engineering) said Social Security has little influence on her vote.

"It's not a big [issue]," she said. "It's not one of the main reasons I'm voting, but I am a little worried."

For some, it was an important issue to reflect on.

"I think Social Security is important because I'm worried that in the future I won't be able to get any benefits. They say the money is going to run out," Yater Ben-Jebria (sophomore-mechanical engineering) said.

Seleme Gilchrist (senior-kinesiology) said she does not think President George W. Bush's administration is to blame.

"I want the money to be there when I retire. I'm gonna be pissed if I don't get my money," she said. "I think it was years of people not thinking about it, so it hasn't affected who I voted for."

Bush supporters say they believe his plan for Social Security will work.

"I think people should have more control over their accounts," Lesley Ferguson (junior-secondary education) said. "I think I'm more in favor of Bush's plan. It would make it so that if all the money disappears, at least you've got something."

Brad Heidrich (graduate-biotechnology) agreed, saying that Bush's plan seems best. "I'm glad people are benefiting from Social Security now, but I think it's going to be bankrupt by the time we get it," he said. "I believe in George Bush's plan to privatize Social Security. [Social Security] wasn't a major concern, but it did help [reinforce my vote] a little bit."

Other students said they thought changes needed to be made to the program. "It's not one of my prime concerns, but yes, I am concerned, and yes, I think the money is going to run out," Daniel Danehy (junior-geosciences) said. "There's alternatives out there. Change is necessary."

Worried students like Stephanie Lytle (freshman-archaeology) said college students should be concerned about the problem. "When we're retired, if there's no Social Security, we're kind of screwed," she said.