In a week crowded with political campaigns, Penn State students last night heard one final candidate speak before next week's election.

Although he arrived half an hour late, when U.S. Senate candidate and state Treasurer Bob Casey entered the HUB- Robeson Center Auditorium, he was greeted by a standing ovation from about 300 supporters.

Casey began by acknowledging the crowd's enthusiasm.

"What is present here tonight and across the commonwealth makes it clear that what people want is change on Nov. 7," Casey said.

Casey told the audience they have one choice to make on Election Day.

"We're going to decide if we should stay on the road we've been on for far too long," he said. "It's a road of deficit, deceit, division and dishonesty."

Casey went on to criticize his opponent, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), for what he called inadequate support of education.

"I'm sure no one in this room will be interested, but the price of college tuition has gone up 57 percent in public universities across the country," he said. "When you're in the U.S. Senate, your obligation is to do everything you can to understand what middle-class families are up against and what college students need to do to pay tuition, room and board."

Kyle Shreve (junior- political science) said he was interested in Casey's ideas about education.

"I definitely agree that our tuition needs to be lower," he said. "There's a lot of kids out there that can't go to college."

Shreve said he thought Casey gave more attention to this issue than Santorum.

Although Casey voiced criticism toward Santorum, College Republicans Chairman Todd Taylor said he didn't hear Casey state any specific ideas for improvement.

"He complained a lot, but I didn't hear any plans to fix the problems," Taylor said. "We have a senator right now who offers plans to fix problems in Pennsylvania and the country."

Casey also spoke about a topic that none of the other candidates who have visited Penn State have addressed -- global warming, which he called "a threat to the existence of the human race."

Casey noted that he takes a stronger stance than Santorum by supporting mandatory reductions in carbon emissions.

Some of the ideas Democratic incumbent Gov. Ed Rendell spoke about on Tuesday were echoed in Casey's thoughts about alternative energy. Casey said money needs to be focused on alternative fuel technology and hybrid cars.

"Santorum has a lifetime voting record of 10 percent with the League of Conservation Voters," Casey said. "I've been endorsed by the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters."

While Casey did not mention the status of the job market for graduating college students, he did touch on the idea of minimum wage increases.

"Santorum has voted 13 times against raising the minimum wage, and we get one chance to vote against him on Nov. 7," he said.

Taylor and fellow College Republicans were present at the Casey rally to show their support for his opponent, by holding Santorum campaign signs at the end of the event.

College Democrats press secretary Eliot Schmidt said he was happy the group saved the protest until the end.

"I appreciate that they were so respectful and hopefully we will be able to continue this trend," Schmidt said.

However, other Casey supporters were not as receptive to the College Republican's presence.

After the event the College Republicans were met with comments such as, "Why aren't you serving over in Iraq right now?" and "Just wait until you have to work overtime to support a family of your own some day."

"I understand that it's a charged political event and there's going to be some head clashing, but I didn't think it would be that bad," Taylor said.

Jameela Conway-Turner (freshman-psychology and political science) said she benefited from hearing Casey speak.

"I thought it was really informative," she said. "I didn't really know a whole lot about his platform before today."

Casey's speech convinced John Coles (junior- political science) that Casey is the better candidate.

"I'm glad to see a change and I think he'll be a better representative overall for Pennsylvania because he's more progressive than Rick Santorum," Coles said."