It's over and it didn't take a month this time. After a close race Tuesday night, it was announced late yesterday morning that Sen. John Kerry would concede to President George W. Bush.

Both parties agree that Bush's job now is to bring the country back together and reunite in support of his political efforts. Bush won the election by a larger margin this time, but it was by no means a landslide of the opinion.

After the messy name-calling and derogatory campaigning, it is time to put aside our political differences and back the president that our country has elected. We support our president, and hope the rest of the student body will as well.

The record voter turnout shows that people care enough about our country to come out and voice their opinions. We still know it wasn't everybody that could vote and we urge these people to remember the margin that decided this election, as well as the 2000 election. The record student voter turnout at the HUB-Robeson Center is a victory unto itself for Penn State. To show our nation and our state leaders that Penn State students care is a win. We, as a student body, needed to shatter the typical apathetic student image and show them that we care about the future of our nation. To all the college students who helped in some way with the election, we salute you. Way to give up your free time for such a noble cause -- your belief in our democratic system.

The political fervor that took place leading up to this election was, without question, valuable to discourse in our country. And it must not stop here. We still need the media to question our government and all authority figures.

Take the political energy that you had for either Bush or Kerry and voice your concerns and know what our leaders are doing. It is the elected official's job to listen to the nation's people, so tell them what they're doing wrong.

The nation needs to be thankful that Kerry did not drag the election out as in 2000. Kerry was noble to the system, andsaw that to further contest would tear what was left of the American political character into tattered shreds.

To the Republicans, you have won, rejoice in your victory, but don't forget about the Democrats and other liberals. Bush had promised to be a "uniter" not a "divider," and we will still hold him to it.

We still have a lagging economy, outsourcing of jobs, a severe conflict with Iraq, oppression to minorities and a homeland security threat.

The nation has trusted you -- along with the majority of your colleagues -- to do the nation's hard work, Mr. Bush, and we are behind you, wishing you the best of luck and optimism.