In preparation for the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC and the 2012 Presidential Elections, President Obama took time out of his schedule to have a press conference with college and universities around the U.S.

In jumpstarting his aim to get the college vote, President Barack Obama held a press conference with colleges and universities around the U.S. He addressed questions and concerns regarding the future of America’s youth and how important our vote is in this year’s election.

In the 2012 presidential election, youth will play a major role in either re-electing President Obama or electing Mitt Romney as head of state for the next four years.

“I know there’s been some talk about whether young people are going to get involved or turn out,” he said. “But the fact of the matter is that we’ve seen in the past and we’re going to see again this time the kind of difference that young voters make.”

In 2008, young adults created a new record with the largest youth voter turnout in American history. The Obama campaign wants young people to continue registering to vote as more individuals are turning 18 and becoming eligible to do so. They developed the youth outreach program giving young people organizing and online tools needed to register and attract voters around the country.

President Obama discussed how the youth vote changed financial aid in the country today by adding a new college tax credit that saves families up to $10,000 on their tuition over four years, doubling grant aids for students, and keeping student loan rates low.

He also took time to talk about plans he has for the country, focusing on education and the economy, if given the opportunity to be re-elected for another term.

On the issue of ensuring jobs stay in the U.S. for graduating seniors, President Obama feels it starts with making sure there is a strong manufacturing base and a greater awareness of where the new jobs are located.

“Sometimes it requires the kind of specialized training that universities offer but young people may not be aware of what these opportunities are,” he said. “The economic environment is changing-the Internet, technology, globalization. All that means companies can locate anywhere and they’re going to locate where we have the best workers, but also the most adaptable workers who are keyed into what the next wave of the economy is going to be.”

Obama expressed that engaging with colleges and universities is great to identify cutting-edge businesses. He will have them partner with institutions of higher learning to help design curriculums which help ensure young people have the skills necessary for jobs people are currently hiring for.

“I do not want to see any young person think somehow they’re priced out of the market,” he said.

President Obama wants young voters to understand this election is serious. He wants us to take our futures into our own hands and participate in voting this year whether we support him or not. “If they do then I’m optimistic that we can rebuild the economy, protect the promise of this country, and remind that world why America’s the greatest nation on earth,” he said.

For more information on the Youth Outreach program and the Obama campaign, you can visit, youngamericans.barackobama.com and to register to vote along with any detailed information on voter registration go to, gottaregister.com.

• Erik Veal, Editor-in-Chief