Actor Kal Penn, best known to college students for his roles in the "Harold & Kumar" and "Van Wilder" movies, registered voters and canvassed with presidential candidate Barack Obama's State College campaign Sunday.

Penn announced to a busy campaign office filled with volunteers and staffers that he hoped the group would register 1,000 people in its efforts Sunday.

He stressed the importance of college students' role in the election and in addition to his afternoon volunteering, Penn was scheduled to visit fraternities and continue his visit to the area today.

Penn, a registered independent, said he has been volunteering with the campaign since last October. He said he would stress the importance of each individual vote and college students' ability to influence.

"It's too important not to do anything," Penn said.

He said he previously had no interest to volunteer in politics, but a "skinny guy with big ears" sparked his interest in 2004.

Penn said politicians continued party divisions after Sept. 11, 2001, but Obama spoke about how red and blue states do not exist. Penn said the concept is not just a talking point, but a concept to live by.

Zachary Zabel, president of the Penn State Students for Barack Obama, said the campaign is trying to excite people about canvassing and registering voters.

"He's in a swing state right now registering students," he said.

Zabel said many of the people he and Penn encountered were already registered, but Penn talked about the issues with those who were indecisive.

"A lot of people were like, 'Why are you in State College?' " he said of Penn.

Penn said he volunteered in Iowa for the state's caucus, and all demographics were represented in the group with which he worked.

"It really doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or Republican, times are rough," he said.

Obama and his wife only recently paid off their own student loans, Penn said, later adding the candidate wants to restructure privatized student loans, increase Pell Grants and offer a $4,000 tax credit in exchange for community service.

"We have a long way to go, and we don't have very much time," he said.

Penn encouraged those present to get people registered and recruit their friends to assist in the effort, and he made it clear he was here for the political campaign.

"I'm not here to take pictures with you," he said. "I'm not here to hang out with you."

Before volunteers left for canvassing and registration efforts, Penn rehearsed registering a voter and lead a chant often employed with the campaign.

Carley Doyle (junior-political science) said everyone recognized Penn and responded well to him.

"I think it was awesome," Doyle said. "It was a huge success."

Patrick Kelley (junior-psychology) said he was canvassing to register voters and his group registered 11 people.

A final total of the number registered was not available by press time.

Kelley said he traveled to houses, but many people were already registered. He said the momentum keeps building with Obama, and Penn has experience helping with the campaign.

"It gives an incentive for the work that they're doing," Kelley said of Penn's visit.